Türkiye's best automotive R&D center

Tofaş R&D Center, which has complete vehicle development knowledge and competencies from scratch, takes part in the product development processes of different models within Stellantis, as well as the models produced at the Tofaş Factory.

The aim of Tofaş R&D Center is to become a globally competitive product and technology development center. In order to achieve this goal, it is aimed to successfully create new product projects in line with market needs, present them to the market and improve existing products in line with expectations.

To achieve these goals, Tofaş R&D Center attaches importance to development within its expanded R&D network and value chain, which includes universities, co-designer suppliers and engineering firms. Innovative technological research projects are also planned to support the stated priorities.

Timeline
2022

- The product development and software branch established by Tofaş R&D Center at İzmir Institute of Technology Techno Park Software Center began operations. With the new center in İzmir, Tofaş plans to increase the scope of its activities in the field of automotive software and take its responsibilities in many different areas such as designing components and systems for different brands and models in the Stellantis world, performing virtual-physical verifications and prototyping, to a higher level.

- Tofaş was awarded the "1st Place in Bursa Province Patent Application" by the Ministry of Industry and Technology for its contributions to the development of Türkiye's industrial property system with its patent applications made between 2017-2021.

2021
- As of end-2021, the total value of the Tofaş R&D Center’s investments in design and testing equipment for use in the areas of vehicle concept, styling, bodywork, interiors, suspension systems, engines, emissions, vibration, and acoustics amounted to more than EUR 58 million. EUR 10 million worth of investments undertaken between 2019 and 2021 increased the center’s physical testing capabilities and capacity.

- In the Turkishtime “R&D 250” survey of companies in Türkiye ranked according to their R&D expenditures, Tofaş placed among the top three firms as measured by their R&D outlays.

- With the addition of eight EU research projects that were approved in 2020 and 2021, the number of such projects in which the Tofaş R&D Center has taken or is taking part reached 29 as of end-2021.

- In the conduct of its 2021 operations, the Tofaş R&D Center was intensively engaged in model-improvement projects for the Fiorino, Doblò, and Egea lines. 350 of the Tofaş R&D Center’s engineers are currently involved in the productdevelopment processes for a variety of vehicles for other members of the Stellantis group.
2020
- The Egea model family, which Tofaş started mass production in 2015 by leading the product development process and exported to many countries of the world, especially Europe, under the name Tipo was renewed. With the renewal, in addition to Sedan, Hatchback and Station Wagon body options, the “Egea Cross” was added to the model range, which is prepared to represent the family in the Crossover class.

- R & D compared to 250 Turkishtime Türkiye Research Tofas, the most among the 10 companies in the field of patent and R & D Center's activities. With 23 patents registered by Türkpatent in 2019, Tofaş became the 7th company that received the most patents.

- Tofaş produced 3 different protective equipment for healthcare professionals in the fight against coronavirus.

- In order to support the availability of medical supplies needed in combating the coronavirus epidemic, Tofaş sent the protective health equipment designed and produced in the R&D Center to health institutions in 70 provinces. In this process, Tofaş produced 1300 biological sampling and intubation cabinets with 50 thousand visor masks. In addition, it created an online platform where demands are collected, production and shipment functions are monitored, and the designs of the equipment are presented as open source so that different companies can also benefit.
2019
- By leading the product development process at Tofaş, three different hardware versions that can be preferred in the Hatchback and Station Wagon body versions of the Egea model family were put on the market. Street and Sport versions with more dynamic design details can be preferred in the Hatchback version of Egea; The S-Design version is offered in Hatchback and Station Wagon body type.
2018
- “Fiat Yol Arkadaşım Connect” developed in Tofaş, was put up for sale. Türkiye is going to change the relationship with auto users habits and vehicle connectivity technology " Fiat Yol Arkadaşım Connect" with Fiat users are now able to access the smart phone or the many exclusive features such as computers can through remotely connect to the car easily.

- The specially developed electric version of the Fiat Doblo manufactured in Tofaş was delivered to Vakko. Two electric Fiat Doblo Cargo, equipped with a fully electric motor and 30kW battery, will be used in Vakko's city operations in Istanbul.
2017
Tofaş R&D begins working on the development of Egea-series racing models for use by the Fiat MotorSports team.
2016
- The hatchback and station wagon models of the Fiat Egea series start rolling off the assembly line. They are sold under the “Fiat Tipo” name in Europe.
- The Egea project’s sedan model goes on sale in Mexico under the “Dodge Neon” name.
2015
Fiat Egea Sedan, the Egea family’s first model, is introduced to markets in the last quarter of the year.
2014
- A new version of the Doblò model is developed for North American markets, where it is to be sold under the “RAM ProMaster City” name and is also available as a passenger wagon. With this vehicle, Tofaş R&D becomes involved in the development of new platforms for Türkiye’s and other countries’ markets.
- Tofaş R&D begins working on a two-year project to develop sedan, hatchback, and station wagon versions of its new Egea series. The investments undertaken for these new models, whose intellectual property rights belong to Tofaş (which is also responsible for the series’ development), are notable as the biggest in the history of the Turkish automotives industry.
2012
Opel Combo, a multi-marque model developed by Tofaş based on the New Fiat Doblò platform, goes on sale in many European and other national markets.
2008
A new R&D building is opened.
2007
- Two years after work on the project began in 2005, Fiat Linea is introduced in İstanbul.
- Tofaş begins producing Fiorino MiniCargo models for Fiat.
2006
By carrying out the product-development activities of the Doblò update project, Tofaş acquires the intellectual and industrial property rights to that vehicle.
2005
Fiat, PSA Peugeot, Citroen, and Tofaş enter into an agreement to develop and manufacture a new “MiniCargo” light commercial vehicle, all of the intellectual property rights to which belong to Tofaş. This was the first successful undertaking of this kind in the history of the Turkish automotives industry.
2002
The Palio and Palio Weekend models are given a makeover. Production of Siena ceases and is replaced with Albea, whose project involves the development of a new product type for the first time. Albea is subsequently included in Fiat’s global portfolio and production of this model begins in Fiat plants in other countries.
2000
Fiat Doblò goes into production and Tofaş creates a segment of its own in the Turkish automotives industry. For the first time, Tofaş personnel are directly involved in a project’s pre-production stages.
1999
Marea and Brava go into production.
1998
Tofaş’s R&D unit is created in December
1994
Participating in its first global automobile project with the production of the Palio, Palio Weekend, and Siena series, Tofaş begins managing a world-spanning supply chain.

Patents

Tofaş R&D Center aims to increase the number of patent applications each year with new value-added projects and innovative ideas. As a result of innovative studies, Tofaş filed 71 new patent applications in 2022.

71 new patent applications in 2022
Timeline

Established in 1994, Tofaş R&D Center was registered as an R&D Center by the Ministry of Industry and Trade as of 2008. The Center, which has created a global infrastructure in the field of vehicle development, has a total of 20,110 m² of laboratory and office space. Today, Tofaş R&D Center is one of the important R&D centers of the Stellantis Group, with the high technology and diversity of its laboratories.

Türkiye’s best automotives-industry
R&D center
600
Employees
18,000 m2
of Laboratory and Office Space



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