Turkey’s leading commercial vehicle producer Ford Otosan aims to export $1 billion worth of vehicles a year to Western Europe from its new factory in Golcuk, beginning on 29 January 2001.
The Golcuk factory was slightly damaged in the earthquake last
August that killed at least 17,000 people. Ford Otosan’s general
director Mark Shultz said when the factory goes into full
production in 2001, it will produce about 100,000 vehicles a year,
95 percent of them to be exported to Western European countries.
He said the new Golcuk factory would have a locomotive effect on
Turkey's automobile sector. “Our initial share in the Turkish
market was 9 percent in 1977. According the recent data, our market
share rose to 13 percent and we aim to sell about 80,000 cars to
the domestic market by the end of this year. The new factory is one
with our latest technology — from body construction to painting,
the whole plant will use only the latest.”
Commenting on recent proposals to curb surging car imports,
Schultz said the 1997 customs union between Turkey and the European
Union does not allow Ankara impose any restrictions on its imports
from the EU. He said the company would consult the relevant EU
bodies, if necessary.
“For the time being, I'd rather wait and see what happens,” Shultz
said. “I would talk to the government first and explain our stance
and plans to export about $1 billion in vehicles to Europe. We work
with a Turkish company — the Koc conglomerate of Turkey — and what
we do will benefit Turkey first."
Any restrictions on imports from the EU would harm the Turkish
economy, Shultz said. “If the government puts restrictions on
imports, I'm afraid the EU will retaliate. So I believe we have to
be careful since the government has yet to decide on the kind of
measures it will take.”
With imported cars devouring over 52 percent of the Turkish
market, there has been a public debate on the need to cut car
imports. One far-fetched proposal was to allow car imports from
Europe and from the country’s eastern customs gates - Russia, Iran
or Syria. Another suggestion was that the government would instruct banks not
to lend money for buying imported cars. The government has denied
the speculation on both counts.
Oyak Renault car production up 48%
Turkish auto maker Oyak Renault's car output has meanwhile
increased 48 percent in the first seven months of this year _ to
82,805 units, according to data provided by the Automobile Industry
Association (OSD).
Ford Otosan increased its pickup truck production by 37 percent
over the same period to 11,809 units.
Tofas followed Oyak Renault in car production with 61,068 units,
an increase of 35 percent from last year. Hyundai Assan produced
12,456 cars (up seven percent), ToyotaSa 6,679 cars (up four
percent) and Honda 5,633 cars (up three percent). Opel Turkey
increased output by two percent to 3,960 units.
Among pickup truck makers Karsan produced 5,771 units, Hyundai
Assan 5,764 units, BMC 2,926, Otokar 1,899, Chrysler 1,309 units,
Isuzu 909 units, Otoyol 863 units, and Temsa 400.
In addition, Chrysler produced 15 trailers, Man 36 and Mercedes
Benz Turk 80.
Trucks produced by BMC numbered 2,463, by Isuzu 2,448, by Ford
Otosan 2,417, by Mercedes Benz Turk 2,218, by Chrysler 1,771, by
Otoyol 1,546, by Temsa 1,164 and by Man 476.
Mercedes Benz Turk produced 1,246 buses, MAN 413, BMC 330 and
Temsa 256 in the first seven months.
Some 7,618 mini vans were produced by Ford Otosan, 902 by Karsan,
803 by Otokar, 781 by Hyundai Assan, 311 by Otoyol and 166 by BMC.
In addition, Karsan produced 2,735 midi buses, Otoyol 1,876, Isuzu
1,083, Temsa 379, BMC 141 and Otokar 22.
From January to July, Uzel produced 11,044 tractors, Turk Traktor
9,602, TZDK 939 and Tumosan 298. –(Albawaba-MEBG)
© 2000 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
