Otokar Europe takes the roads
The number one constructor in Turkey (5th year running) for the >25-seat bus segment – 2,032 vehicles sold nationwide in 2014 – over two years Otokar Europe has grown its presence from 40 to 60 countries today.
French appetite
In Europe, France is Otokar’s biggest bus market, followed by Italy, Spain, Germany, and Belgium. In the Hexagon, the share of its bus types are around 50% intercity, 50% school buses (7-metre long vehicles). The leading model is the Navigo, followed by the Vectio and Territo. And the latest to be launched, in 2015, is the 10.8-metre Kent C vehicle for city use; to be followed, in the second semester, by the delivery of a 12-metre demo version of the same model.
“For France, we waited until the Euro 6 standard came into force, then put a Cummins engine into the Kent C 12-metre, which we are now marketing,” explains Jean Guy Robin, technical manager, Otokar Europe. “This is because the Euro 5 with an engine by Deutz would not have worked for this particular market. Deutz is not well known in France as a bus engine. It is considered more an agricultural brand,” he adds.
After sales, technical training, spare parts
Otokar Europe pilots the five major markets mentioned earlier, plus the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the U.K and French Overseas (DOM-TOM). In parallel, after sales, technical training, and supplying parts are also major activities for the company, which reports that the turnover for spare parts (supplied to authorised workshops), in particular, is booming.
“Otokar is a truly European structure,” expands Mr Atlas. “Our distributors in Italy, Germany, and Spain all require spare parts, yet because of the customs procedures and taxes it’s complicated and costly to supply them on time. This is why we have a depot at Roissy-en-France (north of Paris), which distributes to our eight core countries across Europe. The platform has over 17,700 parts in stock, representing 2,600 models, plus 3,700 numbered parts that are priced and have registered a movement, purchase or sale at one time.”
New products in 2015
- Navigo U, 8.4 metres, 37 seats, Cummins engine:‘compact with maximum seats’
- Kent C Low Floor (LF), 10.8m, Cummins
- Kent C (articulated), 18m
- Vectio C Low Entry (LE), 10.1m, Cummins
Marketing in Milan
At the UITP Congress & Exhibition this year, Otokar Europe showcased three products: the 10.8-metre, LF Kent C with a Cummins engine; the 12-metre Kent C; and the 9.26-metre, 26-seat Vectio C. number one constructor in Turkey
“Given that we are building a brand, we are attending this event with a marketing perspective in mind,” Mr Atlas told Mobility.
In addition to participating at trade fairs and events in 2015 the company is really focusing on three core actions. Namely promoting the 8.4-metre Navigo U, introducing the 12-metre Kent C to the market, and continuing to extend its product referencing among major transport groups.
Three questions – type, emissions & leg room
- Bus type:“For every one coach, we sell three buses,” says Mr Atlas, who believes the future lies principally in the city bus. And in terms of which fuel will predominant in the coming years, he reckons hybrid technology will come out on top. “Hybrid is more efficient today in term of passenger capacity. Currently with electric buses you carry more batteries than people to have good autonomy.”
- Emissions standards:with regards to the Euro standards, now version 6 is in force, will there be a successor? “I’m not sure a Euro 7 is feasible,” reckons Mr Atlas. “In order to reduce emissions for this, the investment required would be extremely onerous, in which case hybrid technology or electric are more attractive alternatives.”
Legroom:“Five years ago, legroom for public transport buses was 650mm; today it is 680mm. And 720mm for tourism vehicles,” points out Mr Robin. “However there has been no revision of the average weight per passenger – it is still considered 75 kilos, despite the fact passengers are generally heavier today than several years ago.”
Lesley Brown
