Ford has rolled out the 100,000th B-Max small MPV at its Craiova assembly plant in Romania. The carmaker sold 67,000 B-Max models in 2013, with the milestone vehicle, a Panther Black Titanium model equipped with a Craiova-built 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine, destined for a local customer.
“We’re very proud to build such an ingenious and smart vehicle as the B-Max and to have reached the 100,000th built target in just 18 months since we first launched the multi activity vehicle,” said Vic Startek, General Manager Vehicle Operations, Ford Romania.
Ford’s Craiova vehicle assembly plant has a current daily output of around 370 vehicles. In addition to the B-Max, Ford also builds in Craiova the 1.0-liter and 1.5-liter turbocharged EcoBoost petrol engines, with the latter used in Ford vehicles in North America and Asia.
Ford says more than 80 percent of European B-Max customers order the Ford Sync voice-activated, in-car connectivity system that features Emergency Assistance. The system can alert local emergency services operators to an accident in 26 languages, spoken in 40 European regions.
A distinctive feature of the B-Max in its segment is the Ford Easy Access Door System that includes sliding rear doors with integrated pillars. B-Max also offers the Ford MyKey technology, which enables parents to place restrictions on younger drivers to promote safety.
By Dan Mihalascu
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