Ford Otosan and Mars Logistics are taking a significant step toward sustainable and environmentally conscious transportation. A new intermodal transport route has been launched to enhance the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability of logistics operations between Ford Otosan’s Craiova Plant in Romania and Türkiye. Under this new system, production parts will be shipped from Türkiye to Romania, while vehicles manufactured in Romania will be transported to Türkiye via rail. This transition aims to reduce emissions by 63% compared to road transport, making logistics operations more efficient and cost-effective.
As Europe’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer and Türkiye’s first and only automotive producer with the capacity to roll out vehicles from two continents, Ford Otosan is launching a pioneering project with Mars Logistics to reduce logistics costs following the introduction of new model production at the Craiova Plant. As part of this initiative, an intermodal railway line has been established, operating four round trips per week between Ford Otosan’s first European investment, the Craiova Plant in Romania, and Istanbul Halkalı. This operation aims to facilitate the transportation of vehicles produced at the Craiova Plant to Türkiye.
Growing Exports from Türkiye to Romania Strengthen the Supply Chain
The newly established intermodal railway line will operate four weekly trips to Istanbul Halkalı, enabling the transportation of approximately 12,000 vehicles per year to Türkiye. At the same time, this environmentally friendly logistics solution will ensure the efficient delivery of production parts from Türkiye to the Craiova Plant. The project will be carried out in collaboration with Mars Logistics and one of Türkiye’s leading railway transport companies. Thanks to this new route, emissions are expected to be reduced by 63% compared to road transport by the end of the year.
Since acquiring the Craiova Plant in 2022, Ford Otosan has been strengthening its European production network while enhancing trade relations between Türkiye and Romania. With the expansion of model production at the Craiova Plant, exports of production parts from Türkiye to Romania have significantly increased, benefiting both Ford Otosan and its suppliers.
Özyurt: “We Are Building an Integrated and Sustainable Ecosystem from Production to Logistics”
Ford Otosan Leader Güven Özyurt highlighted the project’s importance in terms of sustainability and operational efficiency, stating: "With the new logistics model we established between Romania and Türkiye, we transport the necessary production parts to our Craiova Plant, which produces Ford Puma and Ford Courier models, some of which we now transport to Türkiye through this newly implemented logistics model. By leveraging the cost advantages of rail transport over road and sea, we are enhancing our competitiveness while also making a strong contribution to our sustainability goals with an environmentally friendly logistics approach. Beyond optimizing our own production processes, we are also strengthening the entire ecosystem along with our supply chain. We procure parts from nearly 10 Turkish suppliers in Romania and collaborate with more than 60 suppliers in Türkiye for the vehicles produced at this facility. Most importantly, we are also exporting engineering expertise. With the engineering of models developed at our Sancaktepe R&D Center, we continue to be a key player in knowledge and technology exports. At Ford Otosan, we are committed not only to optimizing our own operations but also to creating a more efficient, sustainable, and integrated production and logistics network together with all our business partners."
Sahillioğlu: “We Are Leading the Industry by Expanding Sustainable Rail Transport Solutions”
Garip Sahillioğlu, Mars Logistics Chairman, evaluated the collaboration with Ford Otosan, stating: "We are proud to bring to life the projects we have been conducting feasibility studies on for a long time. As Mars Logistics, we are taking historic steps in Türkiye’s rail transport sector. Through the intermodal railway route we established between Romania and Türkiye, we collect production parts from Ford Otosan’s suppliers in Türkiye for the vehicles produced at the Craiova Plant, Ford Otosan’s first European investment. We then transport these parts with our own wagons to the Mars Halkalı Train Terminal, which is operated by our company. From there, the shipments are delivered to the terminal within the Ford Otosan Craiova Plant, which is also operated by us."
Highlighting those locomotives belonging to Pars Railway, one of Türkiye’s first railway transport operators, will be used for specialized rail transport, Sahillioğlu emphasized their commitment to pioneering industry advancements: "With these significant steps, we aim to enhance efficiency in logistics processes and promote environmentally friendly transportation. Through our projects, we strive to further expand sustainable rail transport solutions."