BMC's UK future in doubt

Commercial Motor
September 23, 2013

The Turkish government's seizure of its national truck and coach maker BMC has put the brand's future in the UK in doubt, according to the marque's UK and Ireland importer Pelican Engineering.

BMC, which makes commercial vehicles, municipal and military vehicles and bus and coaches, was seized in May 2013 by Turkey’s Savings Deposit Insurance Fund, which is the governing body for fund management and insurance in the Turkish banking system.

Pelican Engineering, a Wakefield-based Daf, Hino and MAN dealership, is the official importer for BMC bus and coaches, and has an agreement to be responsible for new commercial vehicles launched into the UK.

Hurriyet Daily News, which covers Turkey, reported that BMC was one of several businesses seized from it’s from its owner Çukurova Group due to the parent company’s debts.

Çukurova Group acquired BMC in 1989, and 1996 started to build and export the Professional series of trucks and started to import to the UK in 2003. The last BMC commercial vehicle registered in the UK was in February 2012.

Ken Grindrod, sales director at Pelican Engineering, also revealed that the company has struck an agreement to be the UK and Ireland importer of Chinese-built Yutong passenger vehicles.


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