Hürriyet – Ford Otosan, the JV between Ford Motor Company and Türkiye’s Koc Holding, has commissioned its 3rd vehicle manufacturing plant in Türkiye. Located in Yeniköy, Kocaeli, the EUR 206 million plant will manufacture two new models of the Courier line, Tourneo Courier and Transit Courier, at a combined rate of 110,000 units per year.
Inaugurated by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the presence of Minister of Economy Nihat Zeybekci, Minister of Science, Industry and Technology Fikri Isik, Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford, Koc Holding Honorary Chairman Rahmi Koc and Koc Holding Chairman Mustafa Koc, Ford Otosan’s Yeniköy plant marks an increase in Ford’s production capacity in Türkiye to 415,000 motor vehicles. Ford Otosan manufactures more than half of all commercial vehicles produced in Türkiye and accounts for 61 percent of the country’s commercial vehicle exports.
Highlighting the employment opportunities created by Ford Otosan in his speech at the opening ceremony, the Prime Minister also praised the company’s strong presence in European markets. “Being the sole production plant of Ford Courier vehicles in the world, this plant is critically important. It is a pleasure to know that Ford Otosan-made vehicles will tour the streets of so many different countries of the world”, Erdogan said. Drawing attention to the country’s own attempts to build a national car brand, Erdogan said that research and development efforts were heavily incentivized in the country.
Ford Otosan manufactures commercial vehicles of various sizes and types in its plants in Türkiye, including a heavy truck, for world markets. The company also has an engineering center in the country, employing 1,300 engineers that work on the development of engines and vehicles.