The Turkish BMC Chronicle
Page 4
By Steve St.Schmidt (Berlin 2024)
The second Profesyonel generation, the Tuğra and military vehicles
In 2008, the Profesyonel was given a new front design with larger openings for the engine cooling system, LED headlights and optimized entry steps.
All expansion plans were thwarted when the Turkish parent company, Çukurova Holding, was massively in debt and its assets, including BMC, were seized by the TMSF, the Turkish government's deposit protection fund, in May 2013. Turkish media reported that the main shareholder of Çukurova Holding, Mehmet Emin Karamehmet, had not paid outstanding debts of USD 75 million out of a total of USD 440 million.
As a result, BMC had to temporarily cease all production until a partnership with QAFIC, the industrial committee of the Cathar Armed Forces, was established in 2014 following a tender by the TMSF and an ultimate offer of 751 million Turkish lira. Turkish President Erdogan had mediated. 50.1 percent now belonged to Erdoğan confidants Ethem Sancak and Talip Öztürk, 49.9 percent to the Cathars, who invested 300 million dollars in the company.
After the seizure by the government, BMC continued to build military vehicles for the Turkish armed forces and for export on behalf of the government. These included heavy trucks for transporting tanks, water cannons and other vehicles for counter-insurgency operations as well as so-called "hidden armored buses", i.e. combat vehicles disguised as buses, and the Kirpi MRAP.
The Turkish Altay main battle tank was also to be built at BMC, but series production did not begin after two units were delivered to the Turkish armed forces in 2023, although it is scheduled to start in 2025. The Kirpi MRAP, on the other hand, is a military success. Kirpi means hedgehog, MRAP is the abbreviation for "Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle".
The Kirpi has standard and additional armor to protect against fire, while its V-shaped underbody and one-piece shell, the so-called monocoque, protect the occupants from landmines and booby traps. It is reported that the Kirpi significantly reduced Turkish army losses. It has already been used in battles on the Syrian border, in Libya and by the Ukrainian army. The Kirpi is available as a 4x4 and a 6x6, and has been in its second generation since 2018. There is also the Amazon and the Vuran, both armored wheeled vehicles that look similar to the Kirpi.
In addition to trucks and military vehicles, BMC also offers buses ranging from 8.5 to 12 meters in length up to 18-meter articulated buses and 14-meter apron buses for airports. They are produced in series and are available with three drive variants: diesel, natural gas and electric drive.
In 2018, BMC presented a completely new generation of heavy-duty trucks, the Tuğra, at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover. Different versions of the unconventionally designed truck were unveiled with great pomp. To driving electronic music and flanked by four female beauties, black fabric panels that had previously covered the vehicles slid to the ground. BMC board member Taha Yasin Öztürk presented the new creation to the assembled press and explained that the meaning of the name Tuğra goes back to "The Seal of the Emperor" or "The Seal of the Sultan". He added that the Tuğra guarantees a pleasant living space and driving comfort with its ergonomic design and is the ideal long-haul truck for day and night with its modern dashboards, TFT display, Bluetooth and navigation functions in the 7-inch multimedia area, generous storage space with refrigerator in the cabin, multifunctional driver's seat and multifunction steering wheel. The maximum output of the Euro 6 engine was specified as 460 hp (maximum torque 2150 Nm). The Tuğra is equipped with a 12-speed automatic transmission from ZF or optionally with a 16-speed manual transmission. Two fuel tanks for a total of 680 liters of diesel are located on both sides of the vehicle.
The "BMC Elegance Tuğra TGR 1846" tractor unit is also available in the Netherlands from Mobility Service Elst (south of Arnhem) for around 90,000 euros. "BMC Truck&Bus NL" is also located there, and together the companies form Mobility Center Benelux BV.
To date, BMC has produced more than 300,000 vehicles and exported commercial vehicles to 80 countries and military vehicles to 16 countries. BMC is part of the Togg Consortium (Türkiye'nin Otomobili Girişim Grubu), which will also produce a Turkish passenger car, according to an announcement by the Turkish President.
A special feature of BMC from the very beginning was that many bodies were produced in-house and not commissioned from body manufacturers, as is usual with other European manufacturers. For example, fire engines, tippers, tankers, concrete mixers, school buses, public service buses for the disabled, refuse collection vehicles and military trucks with MG hatches were produced entirely in-house.
In May 2021, Sancak and Öztürk sold their 50.1 percent stake for 480 million dollars to the Turkish Tosyalı Holding, a leading steel producer that also has close ties to President Erdoğan.
Difficult times had begun with the seizure of BMC in 2014, linked to the machinations of some of the company's shifting shareholders. Turkish media published astonishing details that revealed the financial tricks used by some of those involved to enrich themselves. The construction of a large production facility for the Turkish tank Altay in Karasu, Sakarya in north-western Turkey was initially halted for financial reasons and had to be dismantled. The Cathar investors were dissatisfied as they showed no interest in civilian products and it was unclear at times whether truck production at the Izmir plant would even be worthwhile. In the meantime, things seem to be looking up again, the production of military vehicles is stable and new truck models are due to be launched on the market soon. It's just a shame that the Tuğra series vehicles are not often seen on Turkish roads.
Weblinks:
https://www5.tbmm.gov.tr/develop/owa/genel_kurul.cl_getir?pEid=107717
https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMC_(Türkiye)
https://magazinulasim.com/Konu-bmc-fatih.html
https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/yazarlar/sefer-levent/altay-tankinda-seri-uretim-2025te-42343931
https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMC_TM_150
https://www.wikiwand.com/tr/BMC_TM_150
https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMC_Yavuz
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