Ford to triple European output of EcoBoost-equipped vehicles to 480,000
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Ford Motor Co. plans to triple annual output of EcoBoost-equipped vehicles built in Europe by 2015.
The automaker said today it would boost production to about 480,000 vehicles by 2015 from 141,000 in 2011, and expects to double the number of models offering EcoBoost engines over the same period.
To meet the goals, Ford started production of the 1.0-liter EcoBoost engineThursday at a new plant in Craiova, Romania.
"Our EcoBoost plans are aggressive, but we believe as customers experience this engine family, they'll understand why," Sherif Marakby, powertrain director for Ford of Europe, said in a statement.
Ford plans to produce more than 1.3 million EcoBoost engines for the European market from 2012-15, with more than 800,000 of those expected to be the new 1.0-liter EcoBoost built at plants in Romania and Cologne, Germany, the company said.
The automaker has said it plans to produce as many as 1.5 million EcoBoost engines globally by 2013 for use in a variety of models.
Ford also said it plans to double the number of models in Europe available with EcoBoost engines from five to 10 by 2015. The company has already introduced the 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine in the Focus and will offer it in the C-MAX and B-MAX crossovers later this year.
Ford of Europe will produce an additional 800,000 EcoBoost engines for markets outside Europe during 2015, up from 90,000 last year, the automaker said.
"Today brings a previously unseen level of high technology manufacturing to this part of Europe," Dirk Heller, director of manufacturing and powertrain operations at Ford of Europe, said in a statement. "With pivotal products such as the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine and the new B-MAX being produced here, Craiova is very important to Ford's future success in Europe."
Production of the 1.0-liter EcoBoost engines began at Ford's engine plant in Cologne in November. The 1.6-liter version is built in Bridgend, Wales, and the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engines are produced in Valencia, Spain.
The Bridgend and Valencia plants also build the 1.6-liter and 2.0 liter EcoBoost engines for the North American market. The two engines will be offered on both the 2013 Escape crossover, on sale later this spring, and the Fusion mid-sized sedan, on sale this fall in North America.
EcoBoost engines, which feature turbocharging and direct injection, are designed to deliver horsepower and torque comparable to larger displacement, naturally aspirated engines, along with better fuel efficiency and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
You can reach Ellen Mitchell at emitchell@crain.com.
