Ford Otosan, the Turkish joint venture between Ford Motor Company and Koç Holding, officially launched production at a new vehicle assembly plant in Yeniköy, Turkey, following a $511 million (€375 million) investment.
Built in 16 months, the all-new plant will manufacture the Ford Transit Courier small commercial vehicle and Tourneo Courier entry-level people-mover.
“Ford Otosan is one of the longest-lasting and most successful joint ventures in the global auto industry and today marks another great milestone in this partnership,” said Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford.
The new 70,000 square-meter (753,474 sq-ft) facility is located next to Ford Otosan’s existing Kocaeli vehicle assembly plant and is the joint venture’s third plant to build Ford vehicles. With an annual capacity of 110,000 vehicles, the plant utilizes the same advanced and environmentally-friendly manufacturing technologies found across Ford’s global production facilities.
The Ford Tourneo Courier entry level people-mover and the Transit Courier, the brand’s smallest commercial vehicle, will be sold in around 46 countries.
The Ford Otosan joint venture was set up more than 50 years ago, with the company currently building the Cargo heavy truck, the Transit and Transit Custom medium commercial vehicles, the Tourneo Custom people-mover, and now the all-new Tourneo Courier entry-level people carrier and Transit Courier small commercial vehicle. The plant exports Ford vehicles to 106 markets globally.
By Dan Mihalascu
PHOTO GALLERY
