Aksam – Ford Otosan, the JV established by Türkiye’s Koc Holding and American carmaker Ford, is counting the days until it launches Türkiye’s largest research development center in Istanbul’s Sancaktepe. Once commissioned at the end of this month, the USD 26 million center will employ 1,200 research personnel in engineering roles for Ford’s global operations.
Having started R&D operations in 1961, not long after its establishment, Ford Otosan is a pioneer in the Turkish automotive industry, according to the company’s Director General, Haydar Yenigun.
“We are able to completely design and manufacture a motor vehicle, including the engine,” Yenigun said, stating that the Sancaktepe R&D center would bring the number of employed research personnel to 1,450 by the end of the year.
“Ford Otosan serves as a diesel motor engineering center for Ford’s global operations,” Yenigun said. The company exported USD 300 million worth of engineering services to other Ford divisions in the last 5 years.
With three manufacturing plants in Türkiye, Ford Otosan is a leading manufacturer of light commercial vehicles (LCV) and medium-heavy trucks for global markets.