Turkish auto giant takes control of Uzbekistan’s Samarkand plant

The Samarkand Automobile Plant (SamAuto) in Uzbekistan has been acquired by Turkish automaker Anadolu Isuzu, a subsidiary of the Anadolu Group, following the privatization of 75.2% of the state’s shares.

The purchase agreement was officially signed on November 19, with the transaction valued at $80 million. In addition to the purchase price, Anadolu Isuzu has committed to investing a further $80 million to modernize and expand the plant’s operations, Caliber.Az reports, citing Uzbek media.

The first installment of $80 million was paid to Uzbekistan’s State Assets Management Agency on December 9. Subsequently, on December 10, funds amounting to 1 trillion Uzbek soums (over $141 million) were transferred to the country’s Republican budget, marking a significant boost to state finances.

Anadolu Isuzu secured all required approvals from Turkish authorities to complete the acquisition. Moving forward, an investment contract will be formalized to ensure that the company fulfills its development and modernization commitments.

Anadolu Isuzu, a long-standing Turkish commercial vehicle brand, is expected to pay a base purchase price of 80 million USD for the transfer of the shares. With its 42 years of manufacturing, strong R&D capabilities, and broad product range, Anadolu Isuzu aims to expand its operations, strengthen its regional competitiveness, and transform SamAuto into the region’s integrated production hub through this strategic investment.

Operating since 1999 at its production facility in the city of Samarkand, with headquarters in Tashkent, SamAuto offers a broad commercial vehicle lineup including buses, trucks, pick-ups, and special-purpose vehicles. The company has been operating in partnership with Japanese Isuzu and Itochu since 2007 and is one of the leading commercial vehicle manufacturers in Central Asia.

By Vafa Guliyeva