Opel Combo Enters Production at Tofas

The addition of the Opel Combo to Tofas’ production lines comes at an investment cost of €137 million, Hurriyet reports.

“The new LCV model will create a business volume reaching EUR 1.4 billion for the local spare parts industry,” according to Opel Turkey’s General Manager Ozcan Keklik, speaking at the ceremony held at Tofas Bursa plant.

Tofas CEO Ali Pandir said that Tofas has invested more than €2 billion over the last five years in its Bursa plant for capacity increases, modernization and R&D efforts. By adding the Opel Combo to line, the company expects next year’s export volume to be higher than that of 2011.

The Bursa plant produces Doblo and Minicargo based vehicles for Opel/Vauxhall, Peugeot/Citroen, as well as Fiat itself, and will soon commence production for Fiat’s US partner Chrysler for a rebadged Doblo tailored for the US market. The company will produce a total of 1.5 million LCVs, 85% destined for export, under the cooperation deals. Bursa plant’s production will top 320,000 units this year.