Otokar

Otokar Otomotiv ve Savunma Sanayi A.Ş., also known simply as Otokar, is a Turkish bus and military vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Sakarya, Turkey. Otokar is a subsidiary of Koç Holding.

Otokar
TypePublic Company
BİST: OTKAR
IndustryAutomotive & Defense
Founded1963
Headquarters
Sakarya
,
Turkey
Key people
Yildirim Ali Koç (Chairman)
Serdar Görgüç (CEO)
ProductsBuses
Trucks
Trailers
Military vehicles
Revenue 2.43 billion (2019)[1]
463.95 million (2019)
351.59 million (2019)
Number of employees
1957 (2019)
ParentKoç Holding
SubsidiariesOtokar Europe SAS (France)
Otokar Land Systems LLC (UAE)
Otokar Europe Filiala Bucuresti SRL (Romania)
Otokar Central Asia Limited (Kazakhstan)
Websiteotokar.com.tr

History

Otokar was founded in 1963 as Turkey's first bus manufacturing company under the license of Magirus-Deutz. The company was noted for manufacturing the most modern buses and modern intercity vehicles for that period. In the early 1980s, Otokar started production of Deutz powered vehicles with local components. During this period, Turkey's largest conglomerate Koç Holding purchased major share of Otokar. Within its public transportation strategies in the early 1980s, the company added intercity bus to its lineup.

In the mid-1980s, Otokar manufactured the first Turkish armored vehicle as an armored car by acquiring manufacturing license of Jaguar Land Rover. In 1987, Turkish Armed Forces ordered Otokar to manufacture military Land Rover Defender in Turkey in cooperation with Land Rover.

In the early 1990s, Otokar developed the Otokar Armored Personnel Carrier, Otokar Akrep and Otokar Cobra which was Turkey's first 4x4 light-armored tactical wheeled vehicle where Otokar combined its armor technology with the experience in military vehicles. In 1997, the company moved to its new manufacturing facilities in Sakarya, Arifiye.

In 2002, Otokar acquired a trailer and semi-trailer production company from Koç Group Company of Istanbul Fruehauf A.Ş. Later in 2002, with its experience in public transportation, Otokar developed the small bus called the Navigo which is marketed in Turkey with the Sultan brand. In 2003, Otokar initiated cooperation with Singapore Technologies Kinetics (STK) for the new 8x8 tactical armored vehicle Otokar Yavuz. In 2005 Otokar expanded its line of armored vehicles.

In 2007, The Subsecretary for Defence Industries of Turkey launched negotiations with Otokar on the eventual contractual agreement to develop and produce Turkey's first national tank.

In 2011, Otokar achieved 890,000,000 TL turnover, 72% higher than 2010. Mostly due to civil products, the sales were extended to European countries, leading to the establishment of Otokar Europe office. The company introduced Arma 8x8 ACV, Arma 6x6 EOD, Mizrak RCT and exhibited Altay MBT's early prototype in 2011.[2]

As of 2019, Otokar products are actively used in 60 countries with 300 support and sales points.

Vehicles

Minibuses
Otokar Centro minibus at the 2010 FIAA in Madrid, Spain.

Otokar produces the famous Deutz F4L912 powered, 80S minibusses, which are based on TAM 80T50 light truck, have had the largest percentage by far among all dolmuş's in Istanbul and Ankara since its introduction in 70s. These 14-seat minibusses are particularly known for their cubic shape, durability, long life expectancy, and low operation costs. M-2000, M-3000, and M-2010 were the latest models from this series, which actually started a long time ago under a different coding system. Initially, the vehicles were named after their engines as Magirus, but as the company built confidence among its customers, they started using their own brand. The last member of the series, M-2010 has an Iveco engine and this marks the first time in this series where they abandoned Deutz engines.

Buses
Otokar Territo U
Otokar Navigo at the 2008 FIAA in Madrid
Otokar Vectio at the Busworld 2007 exhibition in Kortrijk, Belgium

Otokar manufactures several buses for civilian mass transit use. Its line of Navigo buses range from the Navigo 125L with 25 seats and 6.3 m in length to the Navigo 160SE with 31 seats at 7.1 m in length. All small bus models use a 4.4L Cummins 145 PS Euro 6 diesel engine. The Navigo is marketed as the "Sultan" in Turkey. The larger more luxurious models have a 45-litre refrigerator, hostess seat, announcement system, optional additional heater and optional double-layer glass, DVD, VCD, MP3 player and LCD TV systems.

Since April 2007, Otokar has also started to manufacture a new 9 meter, a rear-engined bus called Doruk in Turkey and Vectio in other markets.

Otokar is the bus supplier for Inter Trust of Bulgaria.

In February 2020, Otokar has signed an agreement with Iveco Bus for production of Iveco buses in Turkey.

Trailers and Superstructures

Otokar manufactures a wide variety of trailers and superstructures for carrying textiles, refrigerated foods, heavy mechanical goods, hazardous materials, and motor vehicles.

Utility

Otokar, under Land Rover license, has produced several Land Rover variants and models until 2016. These include the Land Rover Defender 90, Defender 110, and Defender 130 for use as utility, ambulance, and rescue vehicles.

Military

Otokar produces wheeled military vehicles for the Turkish Armed Forces as well as other countries.

Former
  • Otokar 80S5.5 (1990-2000)
  • Otokar M-2000 (2000-2010)
  • Otokar M-3000 (2008-2011)
  • Otokar M-2010 (2009-2014)
  • Land Rover Defender (1984-2016)

References
  1. "2019 Annual Report". kap.org.tr. Public Information Domain. 20 February 2020.
  2. (in Turkish) Otokar'dan rekor büyüme! Archived 2012-06-22 at the Wayback Machine, Otokar, Retrieved 19 February 2012
  3. "ARMA is Otokar's new generation modular multi-wheel configuration armoured vehicle with superior tactical and technical characteristics". Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  4. "Otokar Armored Internal Security Vehicle has a specially designed body for usage in urban and residential areas, the number of the doors provides quick and easy access to the vehicle, and the smooth side body design makes it almost impossible to climb on the vehicle". Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  5. "Otokar Armoured Patrol Vehicle is a versatile 4x4 armored vehicle adaptable to a wide range of military and security roles". Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  6. "krep is a special attack/defense vehicle developed on well proven mechanical parts and day/night vision and aiming systems". Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  7. Foss, Christopher F. (2 May 2019). "IDEF 2019: Otokar displays Akrep IIe electric armoured vehicle". Jane's 360. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  8. "Cobra Light Armoured Vehicle". Army Technology. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Retrieved September 15, 2007.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. "Cobra II". Otokar. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  11. "Discreetly Armored Station Wagon, which looks like a standard vehicle, actually has an armored body structure that meets the military standards as well as superior road and cross country capabilities". Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  12. "Otokar : Land Rover 110 Engerek – Özel Harekat Aracı". Ssm.gov.tr. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  13. "KALE is specially designed and developed as a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Personnel Carrier". Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  14. "KAYA, the latest product of Otokar's design and development studies, is specially designed to provide mine and ballistic protection for the troops on all-terrain conditions, while offering high mobility, ease of handling and outstanding crew comfort". Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  15. "TULPAR is designed as a multi-purpose vehicle platform with its outmatch ballistic and mine protection to support new generation main battle tanks in battlefield and to provide fire support for infantry". Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  16. "URAL, a new armoured personnel carrier with a versatile modular platform and an innovative feature set, that fulfils the requirements of even the most demanding missions". Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  17. "Otokar manufactures Land Rover Defender models under Land Rover-UK license in parallel with customer needs". Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  18. "Otokar : Yavuz Zırhlı Personel Taşıyıcı". Ssm.gov.tr. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  19. "Yavuz". Military-today.com. Retrieved 17 March 2016.

Sources
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