Ford Otomotiv Sanayi, jointly owned by Ford Motor Company and Turkish conglomerate Koc Holding said it was extending the suspension of its production operations until 27 April.

The decision, reported by SeeNews, was taken after Ford of Europe said the temporary suspension of vehicle and engine production at most of its European manufacturing sites was now expected to run at least until 4 May. That followed earlier announcements production would be suspended temporarily from 19 March for a number of weeks at the main continental European manufacturing sites (Saarlouis and Cologne, Germany; Valencia, Spain; and Craiova, Romania), with production also halted at Bridgend and Dagenham engine plants in the UK from 23 March. Valencia, Spain, would remain in temporary suspension until at least 27 April. 

Ford Otomotiv Sanayi on 30 March announced the temporary closure of its Kocaeli and Eskisehir factories. Initially, production was set to resume on 13 April.

Turkey is now the main source of Ford's top selling Transit van.