ARO
Encyclopedia
ARO was a Romanian
off-road vehicle
manufacturer located in Câmpulung-Muscel
. The first ARO vehicles were produced in 1957, and the last in 2003. For a short while, Daihatsu-powered AROs were produced in Spain
and Portugal
under the brand
s Hisparo and Portaro
, respectively. In Italy, Volkswagen
-powered AROs were produced by ARO-Ciemme and sold under ACM brand.ARO 10 Versions at Romanian Cars
Production of ARO vehicles have restarted under the aegis of a Czech
company called Auto Max Czech (AMC).
_ii.jpg)
, Italy
, Spain
and Portugal
.
Production started in 1957 with the IMS-57, which was the first model of the IMS Series
, produced under a GAZ-69
license. In 1959 the IMS-57 model was replaced by the M59, followed by a new model in 1964 called the M461. Though its styling and design were based on its predecessors', the M461 had clearly distinguishable features also boasting fit and finish improvements and redesigned mechanics.
In 1972 ARO successfully launched a ground-up redesign as their new family of models, the 24 Series
which eventually included many models and configurations. The ARO 24 Series got a "little brother" in 1980, the 10 Series
, also produced in many body trims with different engines and in both 4x2 and 4x4 variants.
In 1998 an American businessman, John Perez, offered franchise agreements to US auto dealers. Some 200 dealers paid $75,000 each for franchise rights, for a total of $15 million dollars. These rights were offered by a company called East European Imports. The ARO was offered as a Warsaw pact surplus military vehicle. After the franchises were sold, dealers were pressured to send cashiers checks or wire transfers to start receiving vehicles that were allegedly being held in a port in Florida. Dealers refused and insisted to pay upon delivery which eventually led to East European Imports closing its doors.
In September 2003 the Romanian state sold 68.7% of ARO to Cross Lander, a company owned by John Perez, for $180,000 US. The contract stipulated that the company had to invest $2 million US, which allegedly never took place. Instead, all of ARO's production tooling and equipment were sold off; this was an action which violated the privatization contract. The Romanian state sued John Perez in 2006 for falsifying documents in order to acquire the company.
The ARO 244 model was planned to enter the US market as the Cross Lander 244X
, but funding ran out in February 2006. The company Cross Lander USA Inc fired all its employees, sold its headquarters and closed down in February 2006.
ARO went into bankruptcy in June 2006.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
off-road vehicle
Off-road vehicle
An off-road vehicle is considered to be any type of vehicle which is capable of driving on and off paved or gravel surface. It is generally characterized by having large tires with deep, open treads, a flexible suspension, or even caterpillar tracks...
manufacturer located in Câmpulung-Muscel
Câmpulung
Câmpulung , or Câmpulung Muscel, is a city in the Argeş County, Wallachia, Romania. It is situated among the outlying hills of the Transylvanian Alps, at the head of a long well-wooded glen traversed by the Râul Târgului, a tributary of the Argeş.Its pure air and fine scenery render Câmpulung a...
. The first ARO vehicles were produced in 1957, and the last in 2003. For a short while, Daihatsu-powered AROs were produced in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
under the brand
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
s Hisparo and Portaro
Portaro
The Portaro was an all-terrain vehicle manufactured in Portugal by FMAT . The Portaro was derived from an early version of the Romanian ARO, and was available in two main versions, the Jipe and the Pick-up...
, respectively. In Italy, Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
-powered AROs were produced by ARO-Ciemme and sold under ACM brand.ARO 10 Versions at Romanian Cars
Production of ARO vehicles have restarted under the aegis of a Czech
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
company called Auto Max Czech (AMC).
History
The beginning
ARO manufactured over 380,000 vehicles, 2/3 of which were exported to some 110 countries on five continents (before 1989 about 90% of the ARO production was exported). AROs were also produced in BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
Production started in 1957 with the IMS-57, which was the first model of the IMS Series
ARO IMS
The ARO IMS was the first off-road vehicle built in post WWII Romania by ARO.-IMS-57:The first model was IMS-57; a total of 914 vehicles were built between 1957 and 1959, mostly handcrafted...
, produced under a GAZ-69
GAZ-69
GAZ-69 is a four wheel drive light truck, produced by GAZ between 1953 and 1955. From 1954 until 1972 it was produced by UAZ, as UAZ-69, though they were commonly known as GAZ-69s as well...
license. In 1959 the IMS-57 model was replaced by the M59, followed by a new model in 1964 called the M461. Though its styling and design were based on its predecessors', the M461 had clearly distinguishable features also boasting fit and finish improvements and redesigned mechanics.
In 1972 ARO successfully launched a ground-up redesign as their new family of models, the 24 Series
ARO 24 Series
ARO 240 is a two door 4x4 off-road vehicle, which was manufactured by ARO from 1972 to 2006. It was the first of the ARO 24 series, which eventually included many other models: the four doors 244, the 242 pick-up, the three doors 243, the 320 pick-up, and many others body trims...
which eventually included many models and configurations. The ARO 24 Series got a "little brother" in 1980, the 10 Series
ARO 10
ARO 10 was an off-road vehicle produced by ARO and manufactured in Romania. The ARO 24 Series got a "little brother" in 1980, the ARO 10 Series. While the ARO-24 can be classified as mid-size SUVs, the ARO 10 is about the size of a Jeep Wrangler. It was produced in many body trims, equipped with...
, also produced in many body trims with different engines and in both 4x2 and 4x4 variants.
Privatization
In September 2003 the Romanian state sold 68.7% of ARO to Cross Lander, a company owned by John Perez, for $180,000 US. The contract stipulated that the company had to invest $2 million US, which allegedly never took place. Instead, all of ARO's production tooling and equipment were sold off; this was an action which violated the privatization contract. The Romanian state sued John Perez in 2006 for falsifying documents in order to acquire the company.
The ARO 244 model was planned to enter the US market as the Cross Lander 244X
Cross Lander 244X
The Cross Lander 244X was a basic, rugged 4x4 SUV built under license from ARO of Romania, in Manaus, Brazil, and based on the ARO 244. ARO was to supply CKD kits to Brazil for assembly by Cross Lander Industria e Comercio. Sales in the United States were expected to begin in 2005, with targets of...
, but funding ran out in February 2006. The company Cross Lander USA Inc fired all its employees, sold its headquarters and closed down in February 2006.
ARO went into bankruptcy in June 2006.
Amrom
The company Amrom Automotive 2006 was negotiating with ARO creditors to purchase the company from bankruptcy, and plans to resume production of the ARO line of vehicles under the ARO name at the Câmpulung factory.Further reading
External links
- Official website (archived)
- ARO 4x4 AMC