Starting next summer, the first Ford vehicle to be assembled in Craiova will be the Transit Connect (a light utility vehicle), which is currently made at the Kocaeli plant in Turkey. "The production of the Transit Connect model is expected to amount to 30,000 units in 2009, and approximately 50,000-60,000 units in 2010," stated John Fleming, CEO and chairman of Ford Europe, and also vice-president of the Ford Motor Company. The models assembled in Craiova will be destined primarily to America, after the carmaker announced its intention to start selling the model in the US, in early February. "We have recently announced that the Transit Connect will be sold on certain markets in America next summer. That is why we decided to use the factory's capacity in Craiova to meet the rising demand for the Transit Connect," Ford Europe's chairman added. The sales of the Transit Connect stood at 506 units in 2007 in Romania, an increase of 5.4%, while in Europe it sold approximately 110,000 units. The price of this model in Romania stands at 11,850 euros, or 12,974 euros (VAT exclusive). From the sale of vehicles alone, Ford Romania's turnover could stand at 360 million euros in 2009, or 30,000 units. Starting in 2010, Ford will assemble a small class car in Craiova, although that car will not be a Fiesta. "Ford will start to produce small class cars in Craiova in mid 2010, which will be sold on the local market and exported to Europe, but it will not be the new Fiesta. The new model will be directed towards a niche market," Fleming explained.
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