Otokar, a Koç Group company, has completed the acquisition of a defense industry company in Romania, having obtained all necessary legal permits. The leading Turkish land vehicle exporter has become the first Turkish company to produce armored vehicles within the European Union.
Otokar, a leading land systems exporter in Türkiye and part of the Koç Group, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, has acquired a military vehicle production facility in Romania. As part of a project to procure armored vehicles for the Romanian Ministry of National Defence, Otokar initiated the acquisition process of Automecanica SA, a Romanian company, with a contract signed on April 29, 2026. Having obtained the necessary local permits, the acquisition process has been completed; Otokar has incorporated the Romanian company into its subsidiaries, becoming the first Turkish land vehicle manufacturer to produce within the European Union.
As part of an investment of approximately €85 million, representing 96,77% of the capital of the Romania-based company, the production facilities in Mediaș will now operate directly under the Otokar umbrella. With this new structure, Otokar will carry out the production, assembly, integration, and testing processes of COBRA II 4×4 armored vehicles for the Romanian Army in Europe.
With the completion of the acquisition, Otokar aims to make a long-term contribution to Romania's defense industry infrastructure and strengthen its production and logistics capabilities on NATO's eastern flank. In addition to production activities at the Mediaș facilities, significant steps are planned in areas such as technology transfer and engineering development.
Otokar General Manager Aykut OzunerIn his assessment of the completion of the acquisition process, he stated: “We believe that the completion of the acquisition process in Romania is an important step not only for Otokar but also for the global competitiveness of the Turkish defense industry. Having production capability within the borders of the European Union will significantly increase our company's effectiveness in international defense projects. This investment is also a strong indicator of the transfer of Türkiye's high-tech production power to Europe. Last month, we showcased the first COBRA II produced in these facilities to the public; in the coming period, we will rapidly continue the production and deliveries of our vehicles in Romania.”
For Romania, this process means the development of local production capacity and the strengthening of a sustainable defense industry infrastructure in line with NATO standards. Özüner “As Otokar, we are very pleased to take technology, engineering and strategic cooperation between the two countries to a higher level. We expect our structure in Romania to become an important center for new defense projects in Europe and the region,” he said.
PRODUCTION HAS STARTED.
Production of the first COBRA II has begun at the 140 square meter factory in Mediaș, Romania. The first COBRA II produced was exhibited at the BSDA defense fair in Romania last month.
As a result of the tender opened by the Romanian Ministry of Defense for 1.059 4x4 tactical wheeled light armored vehicles, a contract worth approximately 1 billion Euros including VAT (approximately 4,26 billion RON excluding VAT) was signed on November 27, 2024. This project, which is the largest single armored vehicle export contract ever undertaken by Türkiye, is also considered one of the largest military vehicle purchases in Europe.
Otokar, an approved supplier to NATO and the United Nations in the defense industry, successfully serves in diverse climatic conditions and risky regions around the world. More than 33 military vehicles produced by the company are currently in active service in the inventories of over 80 end-users in nearly 50 countries, including 9 European nations.
