Otokar has established its first military production base inside the European Union by acquiring 96.77 percent of Automecanica SA for approximately 85 million Euros. With this move, all manufacturing processes for the COBRA II vehicles in the massive 1,059-unit project signed with the Romanian army will now be carried out at the facility in Romania.
Production Line to Go Live in June
Production preparations have been completed at Otokar’s new 140,000-square-meter factory in the city of Mediaș. The facility has been equipped with a modern, NATO-standard infrastructure covering the cutting, welding, painting, and assembly stages of the COBRA II vehicles. Local staff have finished their preparations, including technical training that began before the contract was signed on April 29, 2026. The assembly line is planned to become operational starting in June.
A New Model in Defence Exports: Local Production
Aykut Özüner, General Manager of Otokar, emphasized that this investment is not just an acquisition but a business partnership model that helps allied countries develop their engineering capacity. With this step, the company has gained the status of a manufacturer that directly produces armored vehicles within the borders of the European Union.
Production Timeline for the Record-Breaking Contract
The contract signed with the Romanian Ministry of Defence, worth approximately 857 million Euros, is Türkiye’s largest single-item armored vehicle export to date. While more than 270 COBRA II vehicles already produced in Türkiye have begun service in Romania, the remainder of the project will proceed with local production once the new factory comes online.
Currently, Otokar has more than 33,000 military vehicles in service in nearly 50 countries, nine of which are European nations. The new capacity in Romania is expected to boost the company’s operational strength and logistics capabilities across Europe.
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Source: C4Defence-Otokar
