Ford Otosan opens new $511 million facility in Turkey

(May 23, 2014) YENIKÖY, Turkey — Ford Otosan, the Turkish-based joint venture between Ford Motor Company and Koç Holding, officially launched vehicle production today at a modern, all-new vehicle production facility in Yeniköy, Turkey.

A ceremony marked the start of production at the new $511million plant, which is launching production of the Ford Transit Courier small commercial vehicle and Ford 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 Bill Ford, Ford executive chairman. “This new plant is a testament to the drive and commitment of the men and women of Ford Otosan, and our success will continue to grow as we move forward together.”

The new 753,000 square foot facility is located next to Ford Otosan’s existing Kocaeli vehicle assembly plant and is the third Ford Otosan plant to build Ford vehicles.

The Ford Tourneo Courier entry level people-mover and the Ford Transit Courier, Ford’s smallest commercial vehicle, will be sold in around 46 countries. The plant utilizes the same advanced and environmentally-friendly manufacturing technologies that Ford has introduced across its global production facilities, and will be capable of building up to 110,000 vehicles a year.

The Ford Otosan joint venture is a more than 50 year-old business partnership between Ford Motor Company and Koç Holding, though the strong relationship between the two partners stretches back almost nine decades.

A core part of the One Ford global commercial vehicle plan, Ford Otosan currently builds 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. Ford Otosan exports Ford vehicles to 106 markets globally.