Otokar starts series production of the Mercedes-Benz Conecto

Series production of the Mercedes-Benz Conecto has begun at Otokar’s plant in Sakarya. Daimler Buses, Mercedes-Benz Türk and Otokar officially announced the start of production on 22 September, meaning that, after the preparation and pilot phases, the cooperation established last autumn has now entered the actual series-production stage. The programme is progressing according to the original schedule: the first pilot-production Conecto was completed in Sakarya this spring, while deliveries of customer vehicles will begin in the first half of 2027.

Daimler Buses and Otokar announced in September 2025 that the Turkish competitor would also become involved in the production of the Mercedes-Benz Conecto, a model popular mainly in the eastern half of Europe. The move was driven primarily by strong demand for Daimler Buses’ European buses and the resulting need for additional capacity. Until now, the Conecto had been built exclusively at Mercedes-Benz Türk’s Hoşdere plant in Istanbul, which also produces, among others, the Intouro, Tourismo, Travego and Tourrider, as well as certain members of the Setra MultiClass series.

Magyarbusz [Info] already reported in early June that the first pilot-production Conecto had been completed in Sakarya. During a spring factory visit at Otokar’s invitation, our editorial team was able to see this vehicle on the production line, in an advanced state of completion. In the pre-series phase that has taken place since then, the production processes and quality assurance system were prepared for series production, which was able to start at the previously scheduled September date.

The arrangement can essentially be regarded as contract manufacturing: the main vehicle components required for production of the Conecto, as well as the type-specific production equipment, are supplied directly to Otokar by Daimler Buses, while production is also supported by the manufacturer’s German and Turkish specialists delegated to the site. Over the past months, employees of Daimler Buses, Mercedes-Benz Türk and Otokar have jointly established the necessary processes and quality assurance requirements. According to Daimler Buses, involving the Sakarya capacity will enable it to respond more flexibly to European demand.

The latest statement also clarifies to some extent a question that had previously remained open. When the parties announced the agreement last year, they did not make it clear whether Conecto production would be transferred entirely from Hoşdere to Sakarya, or whether Otokar would merely provide supplementary capacity. Daimler Buses now consistently refers to “additional production capacity”, meaning that it treats production in Sakarya as an expansion of the capacity of its existing manufacturing network.

According to our information, the manufacturing agreement with Otokar is valid at least until the end of 2029, and more than 1,400 Mercedes-Benz Conecto buses are expected to be built in Sakarya during this period. Contract manufacturing is not an unfamiliar business model for Otokar either: the same plant produces the entire Streetway series for Iveco Bus, and the Turkish company is also involved in the production of certain versions of the Iveco Crossway.

The Mercedes-Benz Conecto is a cost-effective urban bus family offered with simpler configuration options than the Citaro. The fully low-floor model is available as a three-door rigid version and as a four-door articulated version. The type has long been a key Mercedes-Benz product primarily in Central and Eastern Europe, but in 2025 Daimler Buses also introduced it to the German market, where it is offered as a more affordable alternative to the Citaro.