Interview with Mustapha Caner Sinanoğlu, managing director, France, Ford Trucks
TRM24 : You are joining the 7 historic heavy truck manufacturers in France, is it the Ford Trucks brand that is setting up in France or are you going to market your trucks through a French distributor ?
Mustapha Caner Sinanoğlu :
“We will be assigning a French Distributor to represent our brand in line with our global strategy. Moreover, Ford Trucks team will be in France to support the distributor in main functions. Also, I will be starting to work from our Paris office which will be our HQ, by March 2021. We had a delay in our plans for market entry due to Covid 19 restrictions and effects. There is a short listed candidate group that we are in discussion about distributorship. We are hoping to announce our distributor by early second half of 2021.”
TRM24 : You are already present in Spain and Portugal, why the delay in France ?
Mustapha Caner Sinanoğlu :
“At Ford Trucks, we have an ambitious expansion plan. Following Russia, Middle East, North Africa and Central and Eastern Europe; and we are now working on to establish our distribution network in Western Europe. The recognition and popularity that all-new F-MAX gained from all over the world has given a boost to our expansion plans. We have divided Western Europe markets entry into 3 phases. In the first phase, Italy, Spain and Portugal markets entry has been completed successfully. In the second phase, France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg markets entry are planned. Second phase is in progress though with some delay due to Covid 19. We are planning to finalize the phase 2 market entries and reaching a wide network in 2021. We will announce our distributors in Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg very soon. France is the most critical market in our expansion strategy. We would like to work with best partner in France therefore we are making many detailed analysis before taking any decision.”
TRM24 : Which sales network will you rely on commercially ?
Mustapha Caner Sinanoğlu :
“We will announce our sales network with our selected distributor in France.”
TRM24 : Ford Trucks’ objective is to compete with other manufacturers in which truck segments ?
Mustapha Caner Sinanoğlu :
“Except tactical vehicles, we will offer all our product portfolio in France. (tractor, construction, distribution)”
TRM24 : When do you expect to start marketing your range in France and which vehicle will be sold first? The F-MAX ?
Mustapha Caner Sinanoğlu :
“We are planning to do our France market launch in Q3-2021. F-MAX shall be the first to be sold in France. Because the interest for F-MAX is really incredible in every market. This is not an over-statement as wherever we have taken our truck, the interest from customers, truckers, and even the general public is great. The initial reaction for someone who sees F-MAX for the first time is it is a very well designed and built tractor with a beautifully arranged interior. But this is only the first impression, and once the customers test drive the vehicle they are even more surprised with all the key criteria they seek: the quietness inside the cabin & driving comfort, stability, optimum performance and highly efficient fuel consumption, and tons of storage area.”
TRM24 : French customers expect a lot from you on vehicle prices, are you going to offer trucks at low-cost prices ? The prices will be cheaper than with traditional manufacturers ?
Mustapha Caner Sinanoğlu :
“F-MAX is best in class or among the leaders in most attributes and aspects within the competition. “Cost of Ownership (CoO)” is definitely a key attribute of our product offering that sets us apart from the competition. We offer the best value for money in the premium tractor segment by the help of initial price. In our construction and distribution/road series, CoO will be a key attribute as well.”
TRM24 : The vehicles sold in France will be manufactured in France or in Turkey ?
Mustapha Caner Sinanoğlu :
“Ford Trucks (tractors, road trucks and construction series) will be manufactured at the Eskişehir Plant. “
TRM24 : Ford Trucks will be at the Solutrans show next November ?
Mustapha Caner Sinanoğlu :
“We will decide it with our selected distributor.”
