According to the company's statement, Otokar's acquisition of Romania-based Automecanica SA is a major step under the record export contract signed with the Romanian Ministry of National Defense. The process began in January, and on April 29, the formal agreement to acquire 96.77% of Automecanica's capital for approximately €85 million was signed.
Closing is planned once regulatory approvals are obtained. With this, Otokar secures a military-vehicle production base on EU soil. Otokar previously won the tender from the Romanian Ministry of National Defense and delivered COBRA II armored vehicles produced in Türkiye to Romania. More than 270 vehicles are now in active service with the Romanian Army.
The acquisition talks ran in parallel with project execution. Training programmes for workers and technical staff at the Mediaș factory in Romania have been completed. The 140,000 m² site can handle the entire production cycle for COBRA II — from sheet cutting and welding through painting to final assembly. The plant has been upgraded to NATO standards; initial production phases have started, with the assembly line targeted for June.
Aykut Özüner, General Manager of Otokar, said: "In defense, countries increasingly prioritise local production capability and technology. As Otokar, we aim to be more than a supplier — through local cooperation and technology transfer, we serve as a trusted partner that grows allies' engineering capacity. We believe Otokar will deliver value to both economies for years, alongside serving the Romanian Armed Forces." For the supply chain, the deal substantially strengthens the Turkish defense industry's EU certification, NATO-compatible logistics and local support service capabilities.
Key Takeaways:
1. Otokar (Koç Holding) acquired 96.77% of Romania's Automecanica SA for €85 million.
2. The formal agreement was signed on April 29; the process began in January.
3. The 140,000 m² Mediaș facility was upgraded to NATO standards; COBRA II assembly line targeted for June.
4. More than 270 COBRA II vehicles are already in active service with the Romanian Army; an EU-soil production base is now secured.
5. Aykut Özüner: strategy of growing engineering capacity through local cooperation and technology transfer.
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