Following approval from all regulatory authorities, Otokar finalised the acquisition of 96.77% of Automecanica’s share capital. The transaction was valued at approximately €85 million.
Otokar said the deal will turn its Mediaș facility into a major regional land systems hub for NATO-standard armoured vehicles. The company said the investment also positions Romania as one of Eastern Europe’s most important land systems industrial centres.
The acquisition comes as Romania accelerates the modernisation of its armed forces and strengthens industrial capabilities on NATO’s eastern flank. Otokar said the investment will bring advanced manufacturing know-how, technology transfer and engineering capabilities to Romania.
The company said the acquisition will strengthen Romania’s strategic autonomy by ensuring that a substantial share of military vehicle production takes place domestically. Otokar said the move is also a defining step in its European industrial strategy.
The investment reinforces Otokar’s long-term commitment to building sovereign defence manufacturing capabilities in Romania. The company said this is in line with its obligations under the COBRA II ATBTU programme.
“Romania is becoming one of the key defense manufacturing centers in Europe. Our investment is not simply a production decision — it is a strategic partnership focused on industrial growth, technological development, and regional security. We believe Romania has the talent, infrastructure, and strategic importance to become a long-term hub for advanced defense manufacturing,” said Aykut Özüner, Otokar CEO.
Özüner added that the project would create sustainable economic value for Romania. The company said this would come through supplier development, engineering collaboration and export opportunities linked to future NATO and European defence programmes.
In November 2024, Otokar signed a contract with C.N. Romtehnica S.A. for the delivery of 1,059 COBRA II 4×4 Tactical Wheeled Light Armoured Vehicles to Romania’s Ministry of National Defence. The contract is valued at approximately 4.26 billion Romanian lei, or around €857 million excluding VAT.
Under the programme, nearly 800 vehicles are to be produced locally. Otokar said the industrial cooperation framework is designed to support Romania’s defence sector and strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence posture on the Alliance’s eastern flank.
The first Romanian-built COBRA II tactical armoured vehicle was unveiled at the BSDA 2026 defence exhibition in Bucharest. The share purchase agreement for the acquisition of Automecanica was signed on 29 April 2026, following a process initiated in January.
The Mediaș manufacturing site covers approximately 140,000 square metres of land. It currently employs more than 250 workers and technical staff.
Otokar said the facility is equipped with NATO-standard infrastructure and licences required for serial armoured vehicle production. Automecanica S.A. has now been added to Otokar’s subsidiary companies.
Otokar is a supplier to NATO and the United Nations. The company said more than 33,000 of its military vehicles are in active service in nearly 50 countries and in the inventories of more than 80 end-users worldwide.
The company said its armoured vehicles have been proven in diverse climates and high-risk operational environments. Otokar currently exports armoured vehicles to nine European countries and said the Romanian acquisition is the next step in a global growth strategy based on local partnerships, technology transfer and local production.
