Ford and Dacia Halt Romania Plant Production Until August 19 Due to Power Shortage

Romanian Prime Minister Ionel Boloș recently stated that due to severe domestic power shortages, Ford and Dacia have halted production at their Romanian plants until August 19. Ford’s Craiova plant, located 230 kilometers west of Bucharest, produces the Puma compact crossover and Transit Courier and Transit Tourneo Courier vans. Dacia’s Pitesti factory, situated 120 kilometers northwest of Bucharest, primarily manufactures the Duster and Bigster SUVs. Boloș noted that the shutdowns by both automakers have helped Romania reduce electricity consumption by 200 megawatts and added that other companies would also voluntarily lower their power usage. Under normal circumstances, Romania’s state-owned nuclear power company supplies one-fifth of the country’s electricity. However, one of its two nuclear reactors has been taken offline due to declining water levels in the Danube River. High temperatures and drought have led to insufficient cooling water, prompting Romania on August 3 to blast away a protruding rock formation in the riverbed to secure adequate cooling water supply for the reactor. The automotive industry is a key export pillar for Romania, but with production volumes already in steady decline since 2026 and the current energy crisis exacerbating challenges, businesses are facing mounting operational pressures. Soaring industrial electricity costs have already forced Dacia to put its expansion plans for the Mioveni plant on hold.