Automotive Exports – November 2017

Monthly automotive aftermarket magazine
New Bus Of Otokar
Introduced In Europe
Turkish bus manufacturer Otokar launched its new 10 meter midi coach
Ulyso at the recent Busworld Europe exposition. Otokar, a Koc Group
company, showed five vehicles during the exhibition
Otokar General Manager
Serdar Gorguc expressed
that Vectio T, the company’s first
vehicle in the 10-meter class, has
been one of the most popular
coaches in intercity and tourism
transportation since its debut. The
operators’ priority is to achieve
efficient transportation with
advantageous operating costs; so
the company renewed the Vectio T
medium size coach considering the
users’ needs. The Ulyso T, also in the
10-meter segment, was designed
to provide more comfort, higher
passenger capacity, and optimum
operating costs. With a powerful
engine, low fuel consumption, high
level comfort delivering quality, low
operating costs.
Having driven primarily in over
40 countries in Europe, Otokar
launched ULYSO which has been
developed by the demand from the
sector at Busworld.
“ULYSO will boost passenger
satisfaction”
Indicating DORUK T in 10 m length
class had achieved to become one
of the most favorite vehicles of
intercity and tourism transport since
first day offered to the market, Serdar
Gorguc, Director General of Otokar,
said; “We have renewed our DORUK
T bus in line with expectation and
needs of the transport companies.
In the past months we offered
DORUK T bus to the Turkish market,
now we are offering the bus under
the name ULYSO to admiration
of the European market. Having
developed to ensure more comfort,
higher transport capacity and
optimum operation costs, the new
DORUK T will boost passenger
satisfaction in both Europe and
Europe.”
“We continue to grow in Europe”
Evaluating the European bus
market, Serdar Gorguc said; “In the
first 8 months, as the bus market
constricted in the countries such
as Turkey, the UK, Ireland, France,
the market has grown in Germany,
Spain and Italy. Regarding
narrowing domestic market, the
Turkish bus manufacturers have
accelerated the export works. In
the last 4 years, Turkey’s bus exports
increased 39 percent. In the first 8
months this year, the bus exports
obtained 8 percent rise.”
Reminding Otokar has strengthened
its position in the current market
with its wide product gamut,
spread sales and aftersales network,
Görguc said; “1 out of 3 small
and medium sized buses sold was
Otokar in the first 3 quarter of 2017.
We have continued our leadership
in this segment. We have increased
our turnover 39 percent in H12017
over the same period last year, 21
percent of the turnover worth TL960
million from the exports. In Europe,
first being France; Italy, Spain and
Belgium were our primary markets.
In recent two year, our TERRITO and
KENT buses took place in primary
preferences in fleet purchasing.”
Highlighting Otokar had continued
its works in alternative fuels, Serdar
Gorguc also recorded Otokar was
managing the works in “smart
transport technologies” in the global
dimension.
He concluded; “Within last 10 years,
we allocated 4% of our turnover to R
& D studies. When look at the future
trends in automotive we see that
more eco-friendly, more confident,
and smarter transport systems are
emerging. Until today, having
achieved firsts such as hybrid bus
and first electric bus of Turkey, we
as the company, have also wanted
to be pioneer in trusted and smart
transport systems. Unfortunately, in
our country 183 thousand traffic
accidents resulting death and
injuries every year and 89% of these
stem from drivers. We wanted to
reduce this rate via our smart buses.
For this reason together with our
business partners we have joined
CoMoSeF project in the scope of
Euroka Celtic-Plus program.”
42 NOVEMBER 2017