Strategic Step in Romanian 4×4 Armored Vehicle Procurement Project

Photo From the left – Otokar CEO, Aykut Özüner, Sedef Vehbi Otokar Military Cluster Head and Chairman of Automecanica S.A, Andrei Scobioala

Turkey’s global land systems manufacturer Otokar has signed a Joint Venture (JV) Agreement in Romania with one of the country’s leading defense companies, Automecanica S.A.

The JV will manufacture Otokar Cobra II 4X4 armored vehicles and carry out engineering, marketing, and after-sales activities.

Otokar being the defense wing of Turkey’s largest conglomerate Koç Group, has taken a significant step in its 1059 COBRA II contract, awarded by the Romanian Ministry of Defense in November 2024 and signed a Joint Venture Agreement with one of the substantial defense companies of Romania, Automecanica S.A. in order to manufacture locally in Romania and develop further defense capabilities in the country.

As well as producing COBRA II 4×4 ATBTU armored vehicles in Romania, the JV will also conduct engineering, marketing, and after-sales services activities in the country.

According to the signed Joint Venture Agreement, each Otokar Land Systems SRL and Automecanica S.A. will hold a 50% stake in the JV.

Aykut Özüner: We have strengthened our presence in global markets

Otokar CEO, Aykut Özüner, stated that Otokar is the largest land platforms exporter of Turkey and pointed out this agreement as one of the most important steps in Otokar’s growth strategy in defense industry. “Being a global player in the defense industry, Otokar has become Turkey’s largest land platform exporter. We proudly operate in many different regions over the world with our military vehicles, which are successfully serving in more than 40 countries. As part of our ongoing project in Romania, we are pleased to announce that we took the first step for the establishment of our new joint venture company for manufacturing our legendary COBRA II vehicles in Romania. This step will be one of the main milestones in Otokar’s growth strategy in defense industry, contributing to our company’s expansion in global markets.”

Sedef Vehbi: JV will play an essential role to make Romania a strategic hub for Otokar activities in entire Europe.

Emphasizing Otokar’s commitment to expand its presence in Europe, Otokar Military Cluster Head, Sedef Vehbi, highlighted their readiness to meet Romania’s own requirements and stated that, through this JV, Romania will become a strategic hub for European operations of Otokar. She also added, “We are immensely proud to have been selected by the Romanian Ministry of Defense for this landmark project. In line of our localization and challenging delivery commitments to the esteemed Romanian government, we selected Romania’s Automecanica S.A as our trusted local partner following a rigorous and comprehensive evaluation process. In this decision, the company’s technical competence and proven manufacturing capabilities played an important role. Now it is the time to execute and we as shareholders are thrilled and fully committed to delivering excellence while further strengthening Romania’s defense capabilities.

Andrei Scobioala: Our JV will focus on contributing to local capability development in Romania.

Chairman of Automecanica S.A, Andrei Scobioala, stated that being one of the most capable defense companies of Romania, Automecanica S.A. is thrilled to forge this powerful alliance with Otokar. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in serving the distinguished Romanian Armed Forces and boosting the national economy through our factory’s operations.

He emphasized, “Our unwavering commitment to this project leaves no room for doubt—this partnership will be a key driver in advancing Romania’s local defense capabilities.”

About the Project:

On March 20, 2024, Otokar submitted its bid for the tender for the purchase of 4×4 Light Armored Tactical Vehicles initiated by C.N. Romtehnica S.A.

Following the successful completion of the technical evaluation, field tests and financial evaluation phases, Otokar was declared as the winner of the tender and on November 27, 2024 and 4.26 billion LEI multiannual contract to supply 1,059 COBRA II 4×4 armored vehicles to Romanian Ministry of Defense was signed between Otokar and C.N. Romtechnica S.A.

Within the scope of the said contract, the first 278 COBRA II 4×4 tactical light armored vehicles will be delivered directly from Turkey and all remaining vehicles will be manufactured in Romania. The deliveries will be initiated in the last quarter of 2025 and be completed in batches over 5 years. The contract also covers integrated logistics support services. With Otokar’s 40 years of defense industry experience and capabilities being appreciated by around 70 end-users over the world, COBRA II is designed as a modular platform, which can be developed for different mission requirements and actively used by more than 20 end users in 13 countries

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