US car maker Ford said it will interrupt production at its Craiova plant for seven days in September, due to disappointing car sales in Europe.
Around 2,500 people working in the car and engine divisions will go into technical unemployment for one week and receive 80 percent of their wages, according to Mediafax newswire.
“Ford Romania will continue to align its production to the market demand, and due to the flexibility of our work systems, we can react in real time to market changes, including through an increase in production,” said the car maker in a statement. “We are convinced this measure is temporary and the situation will improve as car sales in the European market will start to pick up”
Ford makes in Romania the minivan B-MAX and started in April production of a second engine. The company employs around 4,000 people at its Romanian plant.
Aside from Ford, Renault’s Dacia produces in Romania cars and components for the local and international markets.
Ovidiu Posirca