Ford Halves B-Max Production at Craiova Plant Amid Weak Demand
Ford will reduce daily output of the B-Max by half at its Romanian facility, citing sluggish European sales, but engine production at the site will increase.
Ford will cut production of the B-Max compact MPV by 50 percent at its Craiova plant in Romania, following weaker-than-expected demand in European markets. The company confirmed the shift change and production cut in late November 2012.
Production cut details and impact on staff
From late November 2012, daily B-Max production at Craiova will fall from 500 units to 250 units, as Ford removes one of the two assembly shifts. The move comes just months after the B-Max was launched to European customers, following its debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. Ford attributed the decision to persistent weakness in the European car market, which has seen demand for small MPVs soften across the region.
Ford said that no direct redundancies are planned for its own workforce at Craiova. Instead, employees from the suspended shift will be reassigned to other roles within the plant, including the ramp-up of engine production. However, the impact on local suppliers is less positive. Magna Exteriors & Interiors, which provides parts for the B-Max, will cut 17 jobs from its 117-strong workforce in response to the reduced vehicle output.
Engine production to increase at Craiova
While B-Max assembly slows, Ford will add a working shift to increase output of the 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine at the same facility. The three-cylinder turbocharged unit is used in several Ford models and has seen strong demand across Europe, partially offsetting the drop in B-Max volumes for the plant. This move will help retain jobs at the factory, even as finished vehicle production is scaled back.
Broader context: European demand and local suppliers
The B-Max is not the only model affected by weak European demand. Other manufacturers, including Skoda and Volvo, have also reduced output or delayed launches in response to market conditions. For Ford, the Craiova cut follows a pattern of capacity adjustments across the continent, as seen with the closure of its Genk plant in Belgium. Suppliers in Romania face greater uncertainty, with job losses at Magna highlighting the knock-on effects of lower vehicle output.
Ford’s decision to protect its own workforce by reallocating staff within the Craiova plant stands in contrast to the situation for supplier employees, who are more exposed to fluctuations in production. This is a common pattern in the industry, where tier-one and tier-two suppliers often bear the brunt of short-term demand changes.
What’s next for the Craiova plant?
Ford’s strategy at Craiova now focuses on balancing B-Max output with increased engine production. The 1.0-litre EcoBoost line is expected to continue running at higher capacity, supporting jobs and keeping the plant active despite the drop in MPV assembly. The company has not indicated any further changes to its Romanian operations at this stage.
For more on Ford’s European manufacturing decisions, see Ford shuts Genk plant after five decades, cutting 4,000 jobs.
