Daimler Buses partners with Otokar to expand Mercedes-Benz Conecto production in Türkiye from 2026

© Daimler Truck AG

(IN BRIEF) Daimler Buses has signed a cooperation agreement with Turkish manufacturer Otokar to expand production capacity for the Mercedes-Benz Conecto city bus. Starting in September 2026, Otokar will produce the bus at its Sakarya plant, while Daimler Buses supplies key components, production equipment, and training to ensure quality. The partnership complements production at the Hoşdere plant, which will remain central to Daimler Buses’ network. Executives from Daimler Buses, Mercedes-Benz Türk, and Otokar emphasized that the collaboration addresses strong market demand, strengthens Europe’s and Latin America’s market leadership, and positions Otokar among the top five European bus manufacturers. The deal highlights Daimler Buses’ strategy of scaling capacity while maintaining high standards and underscores the importance of sustainable, long-term partnerships in the global bus industry.

(PRESS RELEASE) LEINFELDEN-ECHTERDINGEN/SAKARYA, 12-Sep-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Daimler Buses is expanding its production capacity through a strategic cooperation with Otokar Otomotiv ve Savunma Sanayi A.Ş. Beginning in September 2026, Otokar will manufacture the conventionally powered Mercedes-Benz Conecto city bus at its plant in Sakarya, Türkiye. The agreement comes in response to strong global demand for Mercedes-Benz and Setra buses and represents a new chapter in Daimler Buses’ collaboration with Turkish industry.

Until now, the Mercedes-Benz Conecto has been exclusively produced at Daimler Buses’ Hoşdere plant near Istanbul. By adding Otokar’s modern Sakarya facility into the production network, Daimler Buses will ensure greater capacity and flexibility. As part of the cooperation, Daimler Buses will provide Otokar with all major vehicle components, specific production equipment, and expert-led training. A dedicated Daimler Buses team will also be on site to support the production process and safeguard quality standards.

At the signing ceremony in Sakarya, senior executives from all three partners emphasized the significance of the agreement.
Till Oberwörder, CEO of Daimler Buses, stated:
“The ongoing strong demand for our products shows that buses are becoming increasingly important to society and that we are offering our customers the right solutions. We are the clear market leader in Europe and Latin America – and this cooperation allows us to further strengthen our position by increasing overall vehicle production. Expanding our production capacity has a positive impact on our profitability. Otokar is a highly respected and reliable partner with strong manufacturing expertise. Working closely together, we will ensure the high-quality standards our customers expect from Daimler Buses.”

Süer Ismail Sülün, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Türk A.Ş., added:
“We are delighted by the strong demand for our buses and the resulting very positive order situation at our Hoşdere plant. The site remains a key part of Daimler Buses’ global production network. We welcome the partnership with Otokar and look forward to supporting this collaboration as a strong and reliable partner.”

Aykut Özüner, CEO of Otokar, highlighted his company’s role:
“We have extensive experience in bus manufacturing, both as a manufacturer and as a contract producer, and have been successfully building high-quality buses for over 60 years. The partnership with Daimler Buses is a significant step for us in further expanding our production, ensuring the most effective use of our capacity, and strengthening our position as one of the top five bus manufacturers in Europe. Our goal is to build a sustainable and long-term partnership with Daimler Buses.”

The Mercedes-Benz Conecto, available in solo and articulated versions, is a low-floor bus designed for urban transit with high passenger capacity and optimized operating costs. Its design emphasizes accessibility and efficiency, making it a central part of Daimler Buses’ offering in city transport.

Daimler Buses continues to deliver strong performance globally. In 2024, it defended its market leadership in Europe and Latin America with 26,600 units sold, up from 26,200 in 2023. In the first half of 2025, the company increased sales by 8 percent to about 13,200 units and improved return on sales to 9.7 percent compared with 7.2 percent the previous year.

About Otokar

Otokar (BIST: OTKAR), established in 1963, offers solutions tailored to the needs of its customers using its own technology, design, and applications. Otokar, a Koç Group company, offers a diverse range of commercial vehicles, including buses, light trucks, and pickup trucks.

Headquartered in Türkiye and operating with subsidiaries in France, Italy, Romania, the United Arab Emirates, and Kazakhstan and a branch office in Germany, Otokar exports its commercial vehicles to more than 50 countries worldwide.

Otokar, which offers a wide range of products from alternative fuel vehicles to autonomous vehicles, has been Türkiye’s most preferred bus brand in public and tourism transportation for 16 consecutive years.

About Mercedes-Benz Türk A.Ş.

Mercedes-Benz Türk has been operating in Türkiye for 58 years as an integral part of Daimler Buses production network. Mercedes-Benz Türk has produced more than 113,000 buses and around 400,000 trucks since its establishment. Since its opening in 1995, Hoşdere Bus Plant—the largest bus production site of Daimler Buses globally—has made significant contributions to Daimler Buses’ global operations. Today, covering an area of 415,000 square meters, it continues to operate confidently as a key manufacturing hub in Türkiye. Mercedes-Benz Türk Hoşdere Bus Plant continues production with a wide range of models.

About Daimler Buses

As one of the world’s leading bus and coach manufacturers with numerous national subsidiaries, the Daimler Truck segment Daimler Buses is responsible for the global activities of the bus, coach and service brands Mercedes-Benz, Setra, OMNIplus and BusStore. The portfolio of Daimler Buses ranges from coaches, inter-city buses, city buses and special‑purpose buses to bus chassis. In addition to the production and sales of new buses, Daimler Buses operates a global service network and offers comprehensive services for vehicles and used buses and coaches.

The locations of Daimler Buses include Daimler Buses GmbH with numerous subsidiaries in Europe, Daimler Buses Latin America in Brazil, Daimler Buses Mexico, Daimler Coaches North America and the bus and coach business of Mercedes-Benz Türk A.Ş. in Türkiye.

Daimler Buses relies on a production network with its two German plants, Mannheim and Neu‑Ulm, playing central roles: The Mannheim plant serves as the competence center for battery‑electric city buses, while the Neu-Ulm plant is the competence center for coaches of all drive types and the sole production site for Setra coaches. Further plants within the production network are located in Ligny‑en‑Barrois, France; Samano, Spain; and Hoşdere, Türkiye.

Media Contacts:

Peter Smodej
Head of Communications Product & Corporate Mercedes-Benz Trucks / Daimler Buses
peter.smodej​@daimlertruck.com
+49 176 30936446

Kai Wolfer
Spokesperson Corporate Communications Daimler Buses
kai.wolfer@daimlertruck.com
+49 176 30934594

SOURCE: Daimler Truck AG