Oltcit

Oltcit was a Romanian automobile manufacturer and vehicle brand based in Craiova. It was established through a partnership between the communist Romanian government, which held 64 percent of the venture, and the French automaker Citroën, which held the remaining 36 percent. The project was intended to create a modern automotive manufacturing base in southern Romania and to produce a small hatchback for the domestic market as well as for export. Construction of the Craiova factory began in 1977. The new marque was publicly presented in Bucharest in 1979, with cars planned for series production from 1980. The initial concept used small-displacement engines associated with Citroën products, including a 652 cc unit developing approximately 36 horsepower and a 1,130 cc unit developing approximately 56 horsepower. The resulting range was centered on compact front-wheel-drive hatchbacks, reflecting Citroën’s small-car engineering expertise and Romania’s industrial-development priorities. The main Romanian-market products were the Oltcit Special and Oltcit Club. The Special used a 652 cc engine related to units installed in the Citroën Visa and Citroën LN/LNA. The Club used a larger 1,129 cc engine and a four-speed transmission. A more powerful Club 12 TRS version subsequently used a 1,299 cc engine and a five-speed gearbox. It was marketed for export to a broad group of European, Latin American, Middle Eastern and neighboring markets, although the exact availability and specifications could differ by market. Oltcit’s commercial life was closely tied to the changing political and corporate environment in Romania. Citroën withdrew from the venture in 1991, after which the company became Automobile Craiova and the vehicles continued under the Oltena name. A two-seat Club 12 CS light pickup derivative was introduced under the Oltena brand in 1993, using the 1,299 cc engine and five-speed transmission. The Oltena production program later gave way to a new partnership with Daewoo Heavy Industries. That arrangement led to the Rodae name and subsequently Daewoo Automobile Romania, ending the Oltcit identity as the factory moved into a different product and ownership phase. The former Oltcit facility remained an important Romanian automotive site after the brand disappeared. In 2008, Ford of Europe acquired the former Oltcit and Daewoo plant, which subsequently became known as Ford Romania. Oltcit is therefore best understood as a historical automotive brand associated with Romania’s transition from centrally planned industrial cooperation with Citroën to post-communist restructuring and international automotive investment.

Oltcit emerged from industrial cooperation between Romania and Citroën during the communist period. The Romanian government held the majority stake, while Citroën supplied minority participation and automotive expertise. The project was designed to establish a modern vehicle plant in Craiova and to expand Romanian production of small passenger cars. Construction began in 1977, and the marque was presented publicly in Bucharest in 1979. Series production was planned from 1980. The resulting vehicles were compact hatchbacks using small Citroën-related engines and front-wheel-drive architecture. The Oltcit Special used a 652 cc power unit associated with the Citroën Visa and LN/LNA families. The Oltcit Club used a 1,129 cc engine paired with a four-speed gearbox. A Club 12 TRS variant later received a 1,299 cc engine and five-speed transmission. The range was intended to serve Romania’s domestic market but also supported exports to countries in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and the Balkans. Oltcit’s development was shaped by the limitations of the Romanian economy and by the changing relationship between the state and its foreign partner. Citroën withdrew from the joint venture in 1991. The company was reorganized as Automobile Craiova, and production continued under the Oltena name rather than Oltcit. The successor range included the Club 12 CS, a two-seat small pickup introduced in 1993 with the 1,299 cc engine and five-speed transmission. A further industrial transition followed in 1994, when Automobile Craiova formed a 49–51 joint venture with Daewoo Heavy Industries. This business was initially called Rodae and later became Daewoo Automobile Romania. The change replaced the Oltena/Oltcit identity with Daewoo-related operations and marked the end of Oltcit as a continuing marque. In 2008, Ford of Europe acquired the former factory, which became known as Ford Romania. The plant’s later history demonstrates the long-term industrial importance of the Craiova site even though the Oltcit brand itself was discontinued.

• 2008

  Former factory acquired by Ford

  [1]Oltciten.wikipedia.org

  Ford of Europe took over the former Oltcit/Daewoo facility, later known as Ford Romania.

• 1994

  Daewoo joint venture established

  [1]Oltciten.wikipedia.org

  Automobile Craiova formed a 49–51 joint venture with Daewoo Heavy Industries, first known as Rodae.

• 1993

  Oltena Club 12 CS introduced

  [1]Oltciten.wikipedia.org

  A two-seat light pickup derivative was added to the successor range with a 1,299 cc engine and five-speed gearbox.

• 1991

  Oltcit identity is replaced by Oltena

  [1]Oltciten.wikipedia.org

  Following Citroën’s withdrawal, the company became Automobile Craiova and continued production under the Oltena name.

• 1980

  Planned start of mass production

  [1]Oltciten.wikipedia.org

  The company planned to begin mass production of its compact cars at the Craiova facility.

• 1979

  Oltcit is publicly launched

  [1]Oltciten.wikipedia.org

  The Oltcit marque and its initial engine configurations were shown at the EREN exhibition in Bucharest.

• 1977

  Craiova factory construction begins

  [1]Oltciten.wikipedia.org

  Construction began on the Romanian automotive factory created through the state’s cooperation with Citroën.

An affordable Romanian compact-car brand combining state-backed local manufacturing with Citroën engineering, initially serving domestic buyers and later selected export markets.

• Compact hatchback

  Oltcit Special

  The Oltcit Special was the smaller-engined member of the original range. It used a 652 cc engine related to those fitted to the Citroën Visa and Citroën LN/LNA. It represented the entry-level interpretation of the Romanian-French small-car project and was aimed primarily at economical everyday transportation.

• Compact hatchback

  Oltcit Club

  The Oltcit Club was the principal larger-engined passenger car in the range. It used a 1,129 cc engine and a four-speed transmission. The model formed the core of Oltcit’s domestic offering and established the brand’s identity as a producer of compact, relatively economical front-wheel-drive cars.

• Export compact hatchback

  Oltcit Club 12 TRS

  The Club 12 TRS was a higher-capacity and export-oriented derivative. Its initial 1,200 cc specification was replaced by a 1,299 cc engine, accompanied by a five-speed gearbox. The version was offered for export to a wide range of European, Latin American, Middle Eastern and neighboring markets.

• Light commercial pickup · 1993

  Oltena Club 12 CS

  Introduced after the Oltcit name had been replaced by Oltena, the Club 12 CS was a two-seat small pickup derivative. It used the 1,299 cc engine and a five-speed gearbox, adapting the compact-car platform for practical cargo use and small-business transportation.

• Compact hatchback

  Citroën Axel

  The Citroën Axel was the Citroën-branded version associated with the Craiova production program. It shared the broader manufacturing relationship and product basis of the Oltcit project and was intended for selected export markets under Citroën branding.

• 2008

  Transfer the former plant to FordM&A

  Background

  The Craiova facility had become part of Romania’s post-communist automotive restructuring after the Oltcit and Daewoo phases.

  Action taken

  Ford of Europe acquired the former Oltcit/Daewoo factory.

  Aftermath

  The site became known as Ford Romania, while Oltcit remained a discontinued historical brand.

  Source

• 1994

  Enter a joint venture with Daewoo Heavy IndustriesM&A

  Background

  After the end of the Citroën relationship, Automobile Craiova sought a new international industrial partner for the Craiova facility.

  Action taken

  Automobile Craiova and Daewoo Heavy Industries established a 49–51 joint venture called Rodae, later renamed Daewoo Automobile Romania.

  Aftermath

  The Oltena program was superseded by Daewoo-related production, completing the transition away from the Oltcit-era brand.

  Source

• 1991

  Reorganize after Citroën’s withdrawalStrategy

  Background

  Citroën left the Romanian joint venture, removing the foreign partner associated with the Oltcit brand and requiring a new corporate and branding structure.

  Action taken

  The company became Automobile Craiova and continued manufacturing under the Oltena name.

  Aftermath

  Oltcit ceased to be the active brand, while production continued until a later partnership with Daewoo changed the company and product identity again.

  Source

1. 1Oltciten.wikipedia.org