COBRA II Production Kicks Off in Romania’s Mediaş, Marking Otokar’s European Manufacturing Hub Debut

The first delivery of COBRA II armored vehicles in Romania’s Mediaş signals a new era for Otokar’s European production footprint.

The Birth of a European Manufacturing Hub

After initial shipments from Turkey, the first fully assembled COBRA II units produced at Mediaş facility were handed over to the Romanian Armed Forces. This milestone elevates Otokar’s Automecanica Mediaș site to the status of its European production center and the first such plant within the European Union.

Order Volume and Delivery Timeline

■Romania’s order for 1059 COBRA II vehicles includes over 780 slated for production in Mediaş over the next five years.

■To date, roughly 300 vehicles have been delivered.

■Plans call for 216 units (including four new variants) to be delivered in 2026.

Economic and Strategic Impact

■The Mediaş plant spans approximately 140.000 m² and features NATO‑grade infrastructure.

■Recent hiring brought in about 100 new workers, pushing the production team above 300; total headcount is expected to near 400 soon.

■CEO Yusuf Fettahlıoğlu emphasized that the investment delivers long‑term gains in advanced production know‑how, technology transfer, and engineering capabilities for Romania.

Otokar’s European manufacturing foothold does more than bolster military output; it creates a regional value chain, amplifies export prospects, and deepens NATO’s land‑systems integration. Such sustained defense spending stimulates local labor markets while fortifying resilience against shifts in European defense budgets.