Businessman Ion Tiriac, who owns Romcar, the Ford representativeon the Romanian market, says there is the possibility of a jointventure with Ford for the import of the American brand, afterAugust 1st 2010, when the manufacturer will also start selling carsdirectly on the Romanian market. The stake is a business that lastyear generated a 304 million-euro turnover and a 15.5 million-europrofit, being the most profitable company out of the four importerscontrolled by Tiriac Holdings. "The Tiriac Group has 7-8 brands inits portfolio for which it still holds import operations.Mercedes-Benz is the exception, with a joint venture being created.This possibility exists for Ford, as well. But it is their decisionto make, because they are the owners of the brand. However, Romcaris focused on the Ford niche, and it will stay this way. We coveredthe other segments with other companies from Tiriac Holding," saidIon Tiriac. In the case of Mercedes-Benz, a brand whose importoperations were held by Ion Tiriac via AutoRom before January 1st2007, the German group opened a national sales company in 2008,where it holds 51%, while Tiriac holds 49% in the wake of a jointventure agreement. Currently, Ford's import is handled by Romcar,but after August 1st 2010, imports will be done directly by theAmerican company, which has two options: to create a company, whichit would control 100% or to extend the partnership with Tiriac, bysetting up a joint venture. Ingvar Sviggum, vice-president of Ford,did not wish to comment on the subject, but said they had a goodrelationship with Tiriac. "We will not comment on whether therewill be a joint venture with Ion Tiriac for a national salescompany or not. There are negotiations underway at present," saidFord Europe's sales vice-president.
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