Ford may manufacture automobiles in Turkey

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

A model stands next to a Ford Fusion Hybrid on Jan 10 during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The firm is considering investing in Turkey. REUTERS photo

It looks like American Ford Motor Company has heeded Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s call to produce passenger cars in Turkey.

At an auto show last year in Hannover, Germany, Erdoğan met with Ford Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally to encourage Ford to diversify its investments in the Turkish market to include passenger cars in addition to the commercial vehicles that the company currently produces.

Erdoğan received his answer from Ford at this year’s auto show in Detroit.

“As we already have a commercial vehicle plant in Turkey and are constantly growing in the country, we are definitely thinking of branching out to the production of passenger cars as well,” said Mulally to a Hürriyet reporter at the auto show.

While Mulally shied away from disclosing any of the particulars regarding Ford’s investment plans, he did say Ford was weighing its options and considering various opportunities. He stressed that Ford’s investments in Turkey would continue. “Keep watching us!” he said.