Sabah – Fiat Chrysler’s Turkish division has unveiled the latest iteration in its Tipo/Egea platform, a hatchback primarily aimed at export markets.
Tofaş, a joint venture between Türkiye’s Koç Holding and FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) , is the sole manufacturer of the new car, which was designed and engineered in Türkiye in sedan, hatchback and wagon formats.
Speaking at the roll-off ceremony at Tofaş Bursa plant, Tofaş Chairman Ömer Koç said that the company has invested USD 1.5 billion to revamp its product line.
“Being Fiat-Chrysler group’s largest manufacturing center in Europe, complete with research and development capabilities, Tofaş manufactures automobiles for seven brands,” he noted.
The Tipo first hit the market in sedan form in 2015 and met huge success in Europe, where it received the prestigious AUTOBEST 2016 award. Production of the Tipo line – carrying the name Egea in Türkiye – will reach 1.3 million units by 2023.
Known for its high-quality and cost-effective production operations, the Tofaş Bursa plant is one of Fiat Chrysler’s key production centers. It currently manufactures Fiat Doblo-based commercial vehicles for several brands including Opel, Ram, Peugeot, Citroen as well as the Tipo models.
Accommodating major automakers including Fiat, Ford, Daimler, Toyota, Hyundai and Renault, the Turkish automotive industry’s total output reached 1.36 million vehicles in 2015. 73 out of 100 vehicles manufactured in Türkiye were shipped abroad last year, mainly to European markets.