Mercedes-Benz celebrates 25th anniversary in Aksaray

Stuttgart/Germany, Aksaray/Turkey

-- The first truck rolled off the production line in Aksaray in 1986
-- A total of €230 million has been invested in the plant to date. An additional €130 million to be invested over the next five years
-- €180,000 donated to the Aksaray vocational school
-- Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG: “We have outstanding prospects in Turkey. Our trucks and travel coaches have been the market leaders in this country for many years, and we want to continue to substantially increase sales in the years ahead.”

The Mercedes-Benz plant in Aksaray, Turkey, is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The facility began producing trucks in 1986. At a ceremony held to commemorate the anniversary, Wolf-Dieter Kurz, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Türk, welcomed Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG; Andreas Renschler, Daimler Board of Management Member responsible for Daimler Trucks and Buses; and 250 invited guests at the plant in Aksaray.

In his speech, Dr. Zetsche talked about the dynamic nature of the Turkish market. “We have outstanding prospects in Turkey,” he said. “Our trucks and travel coaches have been the market leaders in this country for many years, and we want to continue to substantially increase sales in the years ahead.” Dr. Zetsche went on to say that “Our Turkish bus and truck plants are among the most advanced commercial vehicle manufacturing facilities in the world, and they are an essential part of Daimler’s global production network.”

Andreas Renschler, the Daimler Board of Management Member responsible for commercial vehicles, also pointed out how correct it was 25 years ago to decide in favor of the investment in the city of Aksaray. “The facility in Aksaray is now a key pillar of Mercedes-Benz Trucks. Over the past 25 years we have invested a total of €230 million in the plant, and we will invest an additional €130 million in the facility in the coming years.”

The Aksaray truck plant is the most important industrial facility in the region and its biggest employer. “Through our plant and competitive products, we are continuing to contribute to the development of the Turkish automotive industry and the region,” said Wolf-Dieter Kurz while talking about the plant’s success. “Our most valuable asset in all of this is our highly qualified and motivated employees.”

The great importance of training and qualification at Mercedes-Benz Türk is demonstrated by the plant’s donation of €180,000 to the Aksaray vocational school. Dr. Zetsche presented the check to the governor of the city of Aksaray. The money will be used to build and furnish a state-of-the-art training workshop for car mechanics and electronics specialists.

The Mercedes-Benz plant in Aksaray

Mercedes-Benz Türk was established in Istanbul in 1967 and began producing buses for the Turkish market in 1968. The Aksaray plant began truck production in 1986. Today the plant’s product range encompasses Atego, Axor, and Unimog trucks, to which the Actros was added in December 2010. Since its establishment, the Aksaray plant has manufactured 140,000 trucks. The facility currently employs around 1,600 men and women.

Mercedes-Benz Trucks has a 38-percent share of the Turkish market, making it the undisputed market leader in the country’s heavy-duty truck segment. Turkey is the world’s third-largest sales market for Mercedes-Benz Trucks.