Based on worldwide vehicle sales, Ford Motor Company, an American multinational corporation, is the world’s third largest automaker. Ford was ranked the seventh American-based company on the 2007 Fortune 500 list, with global revenues of 160.1 billion USD. Ford produced about 6.6 million automobiles in 2006 and currently employs approximately 280,000 employees in 100 plants and facilities worldwide.

Ford is now associated with various global brands, including Lincoln and Mercury of the US, Jaguar and Land Rover of the UK, and Volvo of Sweden. The company also owns one-third of the controlling interest in Mazda.

Ford Otosan is a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and Koç Group of Companies. Established in 1959 as the first automotive company in Turkey, Ford led the way in the automotive industry by producing the first Turkish automobile, the Anadol in 1969, and establishing the first engine manufacturing plant in 1983. Current capacity is 300,000 vehicles per annum in its Kocaeli and Inonu plants, rated respectively, as the “Best Vehicle Assembly Plant” and “Best Powertrain and Engine Plant” within the Ford of Europe Organization. Other Ford Otosan locations are the Parts Distribution Center in Kartal, Istanbul which is the largest one in Turkey with 50,000 line items available and the recently established Gebze Research & Development Engineering Center in Gebze, Istanbul.

Main vehicles produced at the plants are the Transit (Van of the Year of Europe – 2007), the Transit Connect (Van of the Year of Europe – 2003) and Cargo trucks. As of December 2006, more than 258,000 vehicles had been produced by a workforce of 8,000 employees. Ford has been the market leader in Turkey for 5 consecutive years and also exports products to Europe – more than 183 thousand vehicles in 2006 alone.

Ford Motor Company recognizes the great potential both for the automotive market in Turkey and for Turkey as a manufacturing and engineering base. Turkey presents a tremendous opportunity for growth in the automotive sector which is considerably ahead of that of Western Europe. Ford Otosan is well-placed to play a significant role as the leading automotive company in Turkey. The competitive market conditions, strong supply base and availability of a highly educated workforce make Turkey an excellent location for Ford’s manufacturing and engineering resources in Europe.

The Fontana Pietro company was established in Olginate (Lecco) in 1956 by Mr. Pietro Fontana, as a mechanical and cutting workshop.

In 1980s the venture started to penetrate into international markets and in 1991 cumulated all its activities under the brand name of Fontana Pietro Inc.

At the beginning of the year 2000, the globalization compelled the company to delocalize its production facilities and after two years of researches in different countries, Fontana Pietro Inc. has decided to invest in Turkey, thanks to the positive collaboration experience that the company had with local Turkish partners.

The globalization compelled the firm to establish commercial branches in developing countries, such as Shanghai Fontana Pietro Dies, as well as a manufacturing company in Turkey in 2003.

In the meantime, at the headquarters in Calolzio, the panel stamping and assembling works were launched but only for niche vehicles.

Optimal dimensions of the die making industry and the ease of management and the work force were taken into account when investing in Turkey.

As a result, a last generation company with a production capacity of 500.000 hrs/year; employing 250 staff; having a production area of 16,500 sqm. of which 10,500 sqm. is covered, emerged. And following the laying of the foundation in May 2003, the company started to manufacture in January 2004.

Here are the main reasons driving the company to invest in Turkey:

a) A technically mature market and a competitive industrial level;
b) Closeness of Turkey to Europe; advanced logistics and existing agreements between Turkey and the EU, making possible free circulation of commodities,
c) Low-cost of labor force as compared with other European countries, and its global competitiveness,
d) A booming automotive industry, the long-time presence of the prominent motor companies in Turkey and their increasing production capacities.

The areas in which Fontana Pietro is active are panel stamping and parts assembly, manufacture of sheet metal dies. The company is providing services, including engineering, design and manufacturing, only to prominent companies.

In 2006, the turnover of the company was 70 million Euros and the company controls 60% of the Turkish die making market, as well as 40% of the exports.