First Fiat Doblò rolls off Tofaş K9 line; investments reach $1 billion in past 5 years

At a ceremony held at the Tofaş plant in Bursa, the first vehicle rolled off the K9 production line—a Fiat Doblò. Through a project implemented with approximately $300 million in investment, the Citroën Berlingo, Fiat Doblò, Opel Combo, Peugeot Rifter, and Partner models will be produced in Bursa.

Ömer Koç, Chairman of the Board of Koç Holding, stated that total investments made in Tofaş over the past five years have reached the $1 billion mark, with half of that amount directed toward research and development and innovation work. Koç emphasized that Tofaş ranks among Stellantis's leading production and R&D centers.

The K9 project aims for annual production of 100,000 vehicles; approximately 20 percent of the vehicles produced are planned for export. Together with the existing K0 project, the plant's total annual production capacity is expected to reach 250,000 units. Within the project scope, the targets include creating approximately 1,000 jobs, involving close to 100 domestic suppliers in the process, and achieving a localization rate of around 50 percent. The K9 line is planned to produce approximately 660,000 vehicles by the final quarter of 2034.

Ömer Koç drew attention to the risk that the 'Made in EU' approach being discussed in Europe could overlook the 30-year customs union relationship between Turkey and the EU. He also announced that discussions with Stellantis regarding new models are ongoing.