DEARBORN, Mich - Ford Motor Co says it will set up a company in Romania to market, sell and service vehicles as sales continue to rise.

The company recently bought the Craiova manufacturing facility in the southwest part of the country, and has seen steady sales growth.

Romcar SRL will continue to sell Fords in Romania until July 31, 2010. The new Ford National Sales Company for Romania will take over in August of 2010, the company said.

"With Ford vehicle sales having grown by 38 percent in the first half of 2008, and with vehicle production at our plant in Craiova ready to begin next year, this is an exciting time for Ford in Romania," Peter Fleet, director of European sales operations for Ford of Europe, said in a statement.

Ford said its plans to develop the brand in Romania and the growing expectations of Romanian customers prompted the move.

With the Romanian company, Ford of Europe will have 22 national sales companies, with the last one formed in Russia in 2000, the company said.