Ford Otosan starts all-electric Transit model production in Turkey

Ford Otomotiv Sanayi AS

07/04/2022 15:18

GOLCUK, Turkey, April 7 (Reuters) - Ford Otosan  FROTO.IS ,
the Turkish joint venture of Ford Motor Co  F.N , on Thursday
said it has begun production of its all-electric Ford Transit
model under a 2 billion euro ($2.2 billion) investment to
increase capacity.
    It thus became the first major automotive company to produce
an all-electric vehicle in Turkey in large volume, with the
E-Transit model to be sold in Europe and produced at the
company's plant in Kocaeli, northwest Turkey.
    Ford Otosan, jointly owned by the U.S. automaker and
Turkey's largest conglomerate Koc Holding  KCHOL.IS , will raise
the factory's annual vehicle capacity to 650,000 from 455,000
under the 2 billion euro investment announced in 2020.
    An assembly line will be established for the production of
at least 130,000 batteries in the factory. 
    Ford officials said more than 5,000 orders have been
received for the fully electric vehicle, which is now being sold
in Europe. Sales of the vehicle in the domestic market will also
begin this year.
    
($1 = 0.9161 euros)

 (Reporting by Can Sezer; Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by
Ali Kucukgocmen and Mark Portedr)
 ((daren.butler@tr.com; +90-212-350 7053; Reuters Messaging:
daren.butler.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))