Ford Otosan exports engineering abroad

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Ford Otosan General Manger Haydar Yenigün appears in this file photo. Hürriyet photo

Turkey’s Ford Otosan, which has garnered a strong position within the U.S. based Ford Motor Company, has embarked on a first by exporting engineering. Ford Otosan, which has a $3.5 billion export target for this year, plans to sell $100 million in engineering.

In 2011 Ford Otosan exported $50 million in engineering exports and now hopes to double this number by the end of the year. Exporting engineering is in line with the Turkish government’s 2023 targets.

Ford Otosan’s General Manger Haydar Yenigün told daily Hürriyet that since 2007 Ford Otosan had increased its engineers at its Gebze engineering headquarters from 600 to 1,200. “Our total number of engineers is going to reach 1,300 by the beginning of 2013. These engineers, who are all Turkish, are working on Ford’s global projects including motor development, calibration systems, and gear boxes,” said Yenigün adding that for the first time engineering service revenues were being included in the country’s export revenues. Yenigün also touched on the effects the government’s new incentive scheme. “Turkey 2020 vision is to produce four million vehicles. Two million of these are possible with current capacity investments. For the rest, the incentive scheme will be a driving force. For investments to flow into Turkey, however, the crisis in Europe needs to come to an end.”