Mercedes-Benz Conecto Production Starts at Otokar in Türkiye

Mercedes-Benz Conecto Production Begins at Otokar

Mercedes-Benz Conecto production has started at Otokar’s plant in Sakarya, Türkiye, following a manufacturing cooperation agreement signed with Mercedes-Benz Türk in 2025. Daimler Trucks announced the start of series production on September 22, marking the next phase of the companies’ manufacturing relationship. The additional production capacity is intended to help Daimler Buses and Mercedes-Benz Türk respond to continued customer demand for urban buses in Europe. Customer deliveries are scheduled to begin during the first half of 2027, extending the production role of the Sakarya facility within the companies’ broader bus manufacturing operations.

Series Production Follows Pre-Series Phase

The start of series production follows the successful completion of the pre-series phase at the Sakarya plant. During production, Daimler Buses supplies all major vehicle components and the dedicated production equipment required by Otokar. An experienced Daimler Buses team is also supporting manufacturing activities directly at the site. This arrangement combines Daimler Buses’ vehicle components, equipment, and production expertise with Otokar’s manufacturing capabilities in Sakarya. The cooperation is designed to provide additional capacity while maintaining the production process established during the earlier pre-series stage.

Mercedes-Benz Conecto Targets Urban Transit Demand

The Mercedes-Benz Conecto is a low-floor bus developed for urban transit applications where high passenger capacity is important. Its configuration options include a three-door solo bus and a four-door articulated bus, allowing the model to address different operational requirements within city transportation networks. The vehicle’s low-floor design is suited to urban passenger movement, while the available configurations provide flexibility for transit operators. With production now established at the Sakarya facility, the Conecto will be manufactured through the cooperation between Daimler Buses, Mercedes-Benz Türk, and Otokar under the manufacturing arrangement agreed in 2025.

Additional Capacity Supports European Deliveries

The added production capacity in Türkiye is intended to support Daimler Buses and Mercedes-Benz Türk as they address continued customer demand in Europe. Customer deliveries are planned to start in the first half of 2027, giving the companies additional time to transition from series production into deliveries for European markets. The manufacturing structure also allows Daimler Buses to provide major components and dedicated equipment while maintaining an experienced team at the production site. Together, these arrangements establish a coordinated production model for the Mercedes-Benz Conecto and expand the role of the Sakarya facility in the program.

Industry Impact & Outlook

The Sakarya production start expands manufacturing capacity for a high-capacity urban bus model intended for European customers, while deepening the manufacturing cooperation between Daimler Buses, Mercedes-Benz Türk, and Otokar. The development is particularly relevant to European urban transit demand because customer deliveries are scheduled to begin in the first half of 2027. The next important milestone will be the progression from series production to customer deliveries, with the established supply of major components and on-site Daimler Buses support forming the operational foundation for the program.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will Mercedes-Benz Conecto customer deliveries begin?
Customer deliveries of the Mercedes-Benz Conecto produced at Otokar’s Sakarya plant are scheduled to begin in the first half of 2027. Series production has already started following completion of the pre-series phase at the facility. Daimler Buses is supplying major vehicle components and dedicated production equipment, while an experienced Daimler Buses team supports production on site. The manufacturing cooperation between Mercedes-Benz Türk and Otokar was signed in 2025 and is intended to provide additional capacity to meet continued customer demand in Europe.