Ford: made in Poland

plant with the help of a zł.17.6-million government subsidy. Ford expects that local enterprises will gain a turnover of €198 (zł.696) million and 1,000 new jobs will be created as a result of moving production of the Ford Ka to Poland and using local suppliers. The annual Ka output from the Fiat factory in Tychy will stand at 120,000.

"The contracts with Fiat were signed for the full production cycle of the Ford Ka, 10-12 years, but it is likely we will extend it, as I see no reason that production in Poland would not be a success," said Wolfgang Schneider, deputy president of Ford Europe.

Some 25 domestic automotive parts suppliers will sign contracts with Ford to match its planned E94 (zł.330 million) investment in Poland. The suppliers will provide parts for Ford's new assembly line. "We want 80 percent of the components, rising to 100 percent, to be sourced from local producers," said Schneider.

He added that Ford would not move production machinery to its new plant in Romania, which was acquired for R675 (zł.2.343) million in March.