The Collapse of ASKAM, Turkey’s Largest Truck Manufacturer

Producing the first truck with toilet in the Turkish market and being the first truck manufacturer in Turkey. ASKAM, It has become history with its complicated partnerships and complicated name changes.

Many mergers took place until its name was ASKAM. surviving separations or rights acquisitions Let’s look at ASKAM from the beginning. That is, from the growth of its partners.

Chrysler, which will become a partner of ASKAM in the future, acquires Dodge Brothers Company to expand.

US-based automotive brand Dodge is founded by two brothers named Horace Dodge and Francis Dodge. When it was first established, it produced parts for the Ford Model T. Its name is Dodge Brothers Company. But it wasn’t long before It is purchased by Chrysler Corporation.

Chrysler with this acquisition Becoming the largest automotive company in the USA. So it’s starting to get stronger on the road to ASKAM. But his encounter with trucks came a little later.

ASKAM was actually founded in 1962.

Chrysler in Europe Britain and Spain take control of car companies. But it cannot gain a place in the market as it wishes.

In 1962, to gain a market share in the Middle East geography. He comes to Turkey and establishes a joint company with Çiftçiler Holding. 60% of this company belongs to Chrysler and 40% to Çiftçiler Holding. After its establishment, it has been selling under names such as Dodge, Fargo and DeSoto.

The desired profit margin cannot be achieved and separation begins.

When Chrysler realized that it could not achieve its target profit, It is rumored that he will withdraw from Turkey.

For this very reason, in 1978, Chrysler International A.Ş. transfers its shares to Tatko, Çiftçiler Holding and Ruşenşad. The company continues its production by making a licensing, manufacturing and sales agreement with Chrysler International.

They introduce new trucks in the 1990s.

Chrysler license, Adds Hino Motors license in 1991 and has a large market share. It also adds Hino engines to its new truck, which has all the features needed in this market. The most striking one was made with this partnership. 32260 series There are trucks.

While everything was going well, a global economic crisis broke out in the 2000s. This crisis hits them too and production is suspended. Also as a reason purchasing raw materials in dollars, borrowing money and not repaying the debt It is spoken as.

As a result, the company now takes its latest name, ASKAM.

in 2002 Daimler Benz and Chrysler merge and its name is ASKAM Truck Manufacturing and Trade. Inc. is happening. In 2003, Çiftçiler Group, which is a one-third partner of ASKAM Truck, took over the shares of Tatko and Ruşenşad. In this way, ASKAM shares are collected in one hand.

ASKAM later is rolling up its sleeves to produce a completely unique truck. It also produces. However, this truck, which seems ‘completely original’, is actually a hybrid truck. Because its parts are still imported.

ASKAM’s inability to respond to technological innovations and a bit of bad luck brings its end.

ASKAM cannot recover despite all it has done. Because, as we mentioned above, the effects of the economic crisis still continue. Also especially BMC lags behind companies like Mercedes and Ford.

What causes this is Insufficient R&D studies. With its insufficient work, it cannot keep up with innovations and, since it cannot produce its own parts, it tries to continue production by being dependent on foreign sources and open to debt.

The company stops producing trucks in 2007. However, it continues to sell spare parts until 2014. Today, on the official site of Çiftçiler Holding, there is a link for ASKAM. ‘Work continues towards restructuring.’ There is an explanation as follows. It is not known whether he will return to the roads again. But it is said that it is being worked on.

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