Ford will start producing the EcoSport small SUV model in Romania starting fall 2017. The EcoSport SUVs made in Craiova will be sold on all of Ford’s European markets, except Russia, the group announced on Tuesday, March 22.

The Ford EcoSport cars sold in Europe are currently produced in Chennai, India. The model’s sales in Europe have increased by 30% this year and Ford estimates that the small SUV sales in Europe will grow by 35% by 2017, reaching 1.5 million cars per year.

“Considering that the small SUV sales will increase, for us it’s a good moment to move the EcoSport production to Europe and thus benefit from the excellent workforce at our factory in Craiova,” said Jim Farley, President and CEO of Ford Europe. (source: Romania-insider.com)