Otokar, Turkish bus market leader for the last six consecutive years, participated in Busworld Turkey 2016 with its wide range of products extending from 7 meters to 18.75 meters. A Koç Group company, Otokar displayed eight vehicles, including its new bus Kent C Articulated, at the show.
At the company press conference, Mr. H. Basri Akgul, Deputy General Manager, said Otokar, one of the major players in the Turkish automotive industry, operated in nearly 50 countries with its buses under its own property rights. “We have been the leader in the bus market in the last six years and we are Turkey’s most preferred bus brand. At Otokar, we strengthened our position in the automotive industry even more in Turkey in 2015. Our turnover reached 1.4 billion Turkish lira, representing a 16 per cent increase. Last year increasing its export revenue by 77 per cent, our company also successfully continued the momentum abroad that it has captured in Turkey. At the end of 2015 the share of exports in the company’s turnover had risen to 29 per cent. We export buses to over 45 countries, mainly in Europe. We became the export leader in the small bus segment of Turkey in 2015.”
Growing market share in Europe
Mr. Akgul disclosed that Otokar established the company “Otokar Europe” in France in 2011 aimed at becoming one of the leading bus manufacturers in the European market. He said: “We are nearing this goal. In 2015 Otokar was the most preferred brand of small bus in France. At the same time, through our efforts in target markets such as Italy, Spain and Germany, our bus sales have significantly increased. For us the most important export in 2015 was the “Vectio C” bus, which we offered for the use of the Maltese public transport sector. This agreement, followed by Kent C bus orders, has been the largest RHD bus fleet export of Turkey. Tunisia was the third country where we sold most vehicles last year, after France and Italy in Europe. We also tripled our sales in the Belgian market as compared to the previous year.”
Every third bus is from Otokar
Revealing that commercial vehicle production in Turkey last year totalled 567,769 units, Mr. Akgul said: “As Otokar we signed the production orders for a total of 3,531 buses last year. In 2015, for the sixth straight year, we were Turkey’s most preferred bus brand for 25 and more passengers. One out of every three buses sold in the domestic market is made by Otokar. Last year we also were the company realizing the highest small bus export. With its leadership in the first quarter of 2016, one out of every 3 buses for 25 and more passengers was made by Otokar.”
“Otokar has one of the most successful R&D centers in Turkey and spends 3.8 per cent of turnover on R&D. The company spent 310 million TL for R&D in the past 10 years”, said Mr. Akgul, adding that the center also services as an independent accreditation center for R&D studies for many sectors both domestically and abroad. Otokar has many firsts to its credit, including Turkey’s first electric bus.
He further said: “We have completed all our work in accordance with the regulations on commercial vehicles that will be in effect in Turkey in 2016 and in accordance with the regulation on Euro 6 Emission Motor Vehicles. We have already been selling our Euro 6 in European markets for a long time. You may see the samples of our new buses in Busworld.”
Remarking that studies were carried out on safety beyond the requirements of regulations, he said: “Work on ‘Advanced Emergency Braking System’ and ‘Lane Departure Warning System’, which became mandatory in 2016, have been designed at the Otokar R&D center. Although the second-level tests for the braking systems consisting of two levels will be mandatory from 2018, Otokar vehicles have also successfully passed these tests.”
Kent C Articulated
Otokar aims at maintaining its leadership in the bus industry this year. Otokar displayed its Euro 6 engine Kent C Articulated buses, launched in Europe last year, at Busworld 2016 for the first time. Recently being awarded by ESHOT (Electricity Water Gas Buses and Trolley Buses) affiliated to the Municipality of Izmir for 100 articulated buses, Otokar will provide these vehicles to ESHOT. Kent C Articulated buses will serve in Izmir, where Vectio and Kent buses are already serving. Under the tender, maintenance and service support for the buses will also be provided by Otokar.
The other seven vehicles presented by the company at the fair were: City buses: Kent C (12 m.), Vectio C (10 m.), Navigo C (7.7 m.); and service & tourist buses: Navigo T (7 m.) Navigo U (7 m.), Vecito T (10 m.), and Territo U (12 m.).