By Bosphorus News Defense Desk

Otokar has begun delivering COBRA II armored vehicles produced at its Mediaș facility in Romania, moving the country's 1,059-vehicle procurement program into local serial production.

The vehicles are being built at the former Automecanica plant, which Otokar acquired in June as its first production facility inside the European Union. The company presented the first Romanian-built COBRA II at the BSDA 2026 defense exhibition in May.

Romanian Production Reaches Delivery Stage

Romania had already received more than 270 COBRA II vehicles built in Türkiye before the Mediaș line became operational.

Romanian industry reports say deliveries of the first Mediaș-built vehicles have begun, following the launch of local production and Otokar's acquisition of Automecanica. Production, assembly, integration and testing for the Romanian Armed Forces are now being carried out at the plant.

The 140,000-square-meter facility has the permits and infrastructure required for armored vehicle production. Otokar has described the locally built COBRA II as the first Turkish armored vehicle manufactured in the European Union.

Contract Covers 1,059 Vehicles

Otokar signed the contract with Romania in November 2024 for 1,059 COBRA II 4x4 light tactical armored vehicles.

The agreement is worth about €857 million excluding value-added tax and is the company's largest single armored vehicle export contract. The first 278 vehicles were allocated for production in Türkiye, while the remaining 781 are scheduled to be built in Romania over five years.

COBRA II can be configured for troop transport, reconnaissance, command, ambulance and other missions.

Otokar Gains EU Manufacturing Base

Otokar completed the acquisition of 96.77 percent of Automecanica in June after receiving the required Romanian approvals.

The purchase placed the Mediaș plant under Otokar's direct control and gave the company its first owned manufacturing operation inside the EU.

The facility could support future European procurement bids, although Otokar has announced no additional contract.

Contract Dispute Remains Open

The start of local deliveries comes despite an unresolved dispute over earlier delivery delays and manufacturing targets.

Romtehnica submitted payment claims related to the Romanian production schedule and vehicles built in Türkiye. Otokar made the disputed payments while filing legal actions seeking their cancellation, and the cases remained active in July.

Sources: Otokar, Public Disclosure Platform, AGERPRES, Romanian industry reporting, Bosphorus News reporting and review.