On September 2, the Turkish Prime Ministry's Investment Support and Promotion Agency announced that China's third largest automobile producer Dong Feng Motor (DFM) is to make an initial greenfield investment in Turkey for the production of 52,000 light commercial vehicles per year.
The construction of the new project is said to start by the first quarter of 2010 and, once completed, will employ 1,000 personnel. Feasibility studies for the location of the new plant are currently being carried out.
Commenting on the new project, Gökhan Yeşilkaya, chairman of MGY Otomotiv, DFM's distributor in Turkey, said, "For about a year, we have been selling the light commercial vehicles of DFM in Turkey. Witnessing the invigorated local demand amid the economic crisis, DFM executives decided quickly to start production in Turkey. Following the commencement of the project's construction by the first quarter of 2010, production will start as soon as possible. Turkey will play a key role in DFM's expansion to the European market. With this investment, we are also planning to expand to the Middle East and North African markets."
Established in 1969, Wuhan-based DFM produces 1.3 million vehicle units per year.