“India is an exciting country. There is a big potential for buses and coaches, and we definitely want to be in the Indian market. But we have to weather the crisis situation in our existing markets, and then when the time is right we will hopefully make our way into the Indian market”, said Mr. Omer Sozuktek, Business Development Director of Temsa Global.
Disclosing this at Busworld, Mr. Sozutek said that, despite recession in the European market, the company has done well and will maintain the same volumes this year as in the last in terms of exports to Europe. It is the domestic market in Turkey where Temsa has been very badly affected due to emission change regulations and appreciation of the currency.
The company unveiled a completely refreshing and new brand identity for the Temsa brand. “Hopefully by the beginning or the second half of 2010 we hope to see some recovery, and then we will be in a position to reconsider our decision of coming to India”, Mr. Sozutek said.
Temsa had conducted detailed feasibility studies in India with component manufacturers, fleet operators and transport corporations. It was also in discussion with a few partners in India for a possible joint venture. “JBM is definitely a strong candidate for becoming a JV partner in India, but we haven’t decided yet and we will see how things progress”, he added.
Temsa is a leading commercial vehicle manufacturer and distributor. It is part of Sabanci Holding, one of Turkey’s leading conglomerates.
Temsa global operates in three business fields: manufacturing and distribution of its bus & coach brand Temsa in Europe, Turkey, the Middle East, North Africa, the Gulf countries and North America; manufacturing and distribution of Mitsubishi FUSO light trucks in Turkey, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, and of Mitsubishi passenger cars in Turkey; and distribution of Komatsu construction equipment in Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan and T.R.N.C.
Temsa’s global turnover in 2008 was $870 million, of which bus & coach exports alone accounted for $202 million. The company exports close to 75 per cent of the buses and coaches produced at Adana, more than 80 per cent of which are for Europe.
Temsa has currently nine models to offer in Europe: Diamond, Safari HD, Safari RD, Opalin, Tourmalin, Tourmalin IC, Metropol IC, Avenue LF (Diesel, CNG and Hybrid Diesel/Electric) and Avenue LE. The company sells its buses in over 46 countries.
