GM plans to bring Opel production back to Turkey
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Ekim 31, 2005 12:15
The world's largest auto producer, General Motors (GM), has announced plans to re-open the Opel-Turkey auto-production factory it had closed in Izmir at the end of 2000, following a slow-down in the market. Following what GM says is the extraordinary success of Opel sales in Europe, plans to produce the "Astra" model of Opels at the Izmir plant have been put into motion.
The CEO of GM, Rick Wagoner, has said that GM now regrets its decision to end production in the Izmir factory: "We are now sorry that we shut down our factory in Turkey. Because it is actually now that that country's star has begun to shine." Wagoner also talked about the lively car market in Turkey, saying "Turkey has a young population and a hungry market."
"If we are not successful in Turkey, we will not be successful in Eastern Europe"
GM revealed that following the success of the Astra Sedan in Europe, it had considered Poland, Turkey, and China in the run-up to deciding where to start new production to keep up with demand. The choice to stick with Turkey was compounded by the strength of Turkey's national market, as well as its proximity to eastern Europe. GM's marketing director for Eastern Europe, Thomas Owsianski, said last weekend that Turkey might well be a larger market for GM than Russia, noting also "Turkey is a very open market....If we are not successful in Turkey, we will not be successful in Eastern Europe."
"If we are not successful in Turkey, we will not be successful in Eastern Europe"
GM revealed that following the success of the Astra Sedan in Europe, it had considered Poland, Turkey, and China in the run-up to deciding where to start new production to keep up with demand. The choice to stick with Turkey was compounded by the strength of Turkey's national market, as well as its proximity to eastern Europe. GM's marketing director for Eastern Europe, Thomas Owsianski, said last weekend that Turkey might well be a larger market for GM than Russia, noting also "Turkey is a very open market....If we are not successful in Turkey, we will not be successful in Eastern Europe."