Koç expanded
his vision further when Ankara became the
capital of Turkey. He concentrated on the
construction sector and trade of
construction materials. After 1928, he
became the representative for Ford Motor Co.
and Standard Oil (now Mobil) in Turkey. He
opened branches in İstanbul and Eskişehir
and grouped his enterprises under Koç
Ticaret Anonim Şirketi (Koç Trade Inc.) in
1938.
When the
Republic of Turkey began its
industrialization effort, he reached an
agreement with General Electric in 1948 to
establish a light bulb factory. Later on,
Türkay,
Gazal,
T.E.E. factories and a cable factory
with Siemens were founded. Tractor
production was initiated under the Fiat
license.
The
breakthrough achieved by Koç in the
automotive sector evolved into a complete
industry. The leading automative company,
Otosan, started its operations as a result
of an agreement made with the Ford Motor Co.
for the assembly of trucks. After Turkey's
first locally manufactured car 'Anadol',
Vehbi Koç led
the way to the foundation of
Tofaş together with Italian Fiat, as
economic development progressed rapidly in
the country. The production of Murat, the
second locally manufactured car brand,
shortly followed. The giant automotive and
subsidiary industries of the present are all
results of the spark produced by Vehbi Koç.
He brought
together all of his companies under the name
of "Koç Holding A.Ş." in 1963 and thus
initiated an important step in Turkey's
economic life. The period of holdings in
Turkey started with this Koç initiative and
many businessmen followed suit.
