Although it existed, the sudden closure of this factory for the production of military-class jeeps still remains a mystery. Although the military vehicles produced are still used by the Turkish Armed Forces, the question of why production was stopped has been debated by the public, press and people involved in the project. Even among experts it remains unclear.

While the sudden closure of the factory left many people with doubts at the time, even todaymaybe today ‘We could have Jeeps from world brands’ It makes you think.

Let’s explain it from the beginning. Turkey’s significant share of the automotive industry made foreign manufacturers want to produce domestically and open car factories for a while.

While companies like Toyota Türkiye, Oyak Renault and Tofaş produce passenger cars; Ford Otosan, Anadolu Isuzu and Mercedes-Benz Turk Companies like this produced commercial vehicles.

However, there was another company that was known as Turkey’s first domestic car factory: Turkish Willys Overland.

Turkish Willys Overland, founded in 1954 Tuzla Jeep Factory It was represented by. This factory completed the assembly of parts imported from America with parts produced in Turkey and produced civilian and military jeeps and pickup trucks.

The factory, which was handed over to the Turkish Armed Forces, started the localization project in 1986.

The localization project, initiated under the name ‘T Model’, was fully completed in 1990. It allowed the production of GT and GTD models. These models went into production in the 1990s as military-grade Jeeps.

by the Turkish Patent Institute in 1995 “Tuzla 1013” The factory, whose trademark was registered with the name and ‘T’ logo, prepared the models produced for export with the permission of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Tuzla Jeep Factory has produced 15 different vehicle models so far.

These models include commander vehicles, personnel vehicles, weapons vehicles and ambulance jeeps. Locally produced models are more durable than imported models. He had the ability to climb steep slopes. In addition They were imported for only 20% of the price and the power of the vehicles was many times greater than that of other world famous brands.

Besides tools engine, transmission, off-road gears, differentials, axlespowertrain and chassis were completely manufactured at the Tuzla Jeep factory.

1013. Main repair factory of Ordu equipment The factory, also known as , had a 100% local production rate.

So what happened after everything was fine?

While everything was going well, the factory opened in 2006 “not necessary” It was closed for the following reason. Although no clear statement has been made on the subject, said Prof., a faculty member at Yıldız Technical University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, who is part of the team at the factory. Rahmi Guçlü’s His statements draw attention to this issue.

Strong, for the entire time he worked in the factory a change in the concept of the military He says he has heard that he plans to do this and will stop production.

Güçlü pointed out the difficulty of production and the tendency of industrialists to import. revolution cars He also emphasizes that many projects like this have been stopped for similar reasons and that this situation needs to be investigated.

Authorities did not know the reason for the closure.

Strong uteruswhile explaining the process, answers the questions asked by saying that only high-level authorities and officials can provide answers, and that you should ask them:

The factory is of strategic importance for both Türkiye and the Turkish armed forces. It’s baffling that it was such a big project and was suddenly stopped.

Moreover, Turkey has faced such a ‘stop’ whenever it has taken steps towards domestic cars…

Powerful, produced jeep vehicles He also mentions the existence of countries like Iran and Pakistan who want to buy by seeing it in the exercise. Had production continued, civilian demand could have been met; We could have a car from a world brand. But it didn’t happen.

Although the first thing that comes to mind about our domestic car adventure is Devrim, which was stopped due to a lack of gasoline, or Anadol, whose production was stopped because the cows ate it, we see that the project is entirely ours. Tuzla 1013s The reason for quitting is at a similar point as her.

This situation, Turkey’s domestic production potential in the automotive industry It makes us think deeply about how this can be prevented and why it is difficult to create a completely national car market in the country.

All that remains is domestic vehicle All we have to do is lose our production capacity and become dependent on foreign countries again.

Our other content related to cars: