Ford Moves Southeastern Europe Sales Unit To Hungary

The Hungarian Ford center will be merged with Ford Motor Hungaria Kft., Ford's fully owned national sales company, Ford Hungary Public Relations Manager Gyorgy Madarasz told. He did not say how many jobs would be affected in the move. The unit is to serve as the center for Ford's business both in Hungary and other countries of the region, including Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine. Ford set up the office in Warley in England's West Midlands, near Birmingham, to deal with car sales in southeastern Europe following the collapse of communism. At the same time as it moves its southeastern Europe hub to Hungary, Ford will also separate its sales and distribution business from its parts manufacturing venture, Madarasz said. The move is part of a global plan by Ford to spin off its Visteon parts unit this summer. The Hungarian Alba Ford parts plant is located in the western city of Szekesfehervar.