Anadolu Isuzu bids for 75% of SamAuto, eyeing control

Türkiye’s Anadolu Isuzu Otomotiv Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş., a leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, has officially proposed to acquire a 75.2% controlling stake in Samarkand Automobile Plant (SamAuto), according to a statement published on Türkiye’s Public Disclosure Platform (KAP).

Photo: SamAuto

The controlling interest in SamAuto is currently state-owned, while the remaining shares are held by two Japanese companies — Itochu Corporation and Isuzu Motors, each owning 12.4%.

The Uzbek company manufactures trucks, buses, and ISUZU D-Max pickups under license from Japan’s Isuzu Motors.

The offer from Anadolu Isuzu follows a memorandum of understanding signed in June 2024, which outlined the framework for assessing the feasibility of the acquisition and conducting the necessary due diligence procedures.

On October 7, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov met with Bora Koçak, President of Anadolu Isuzu, to discuss the company’s participation in Uzbekistan’s state privatization program and potential cooperation on automotive projects.

In November, Anadolu Isuzu began conducting financial, legal, and tax audits as part of preparing a mandatory offer. The company emphasized that the public will be kept informed throughout the process.

Founded in 1984, Anadolu Isuzu is a subsidiary of Türkiye’s Anadolu Group and ranks among the largest commercial vehicle producers in the country. In Uzbekistan, Anadolu Group already operates Coca-Cola factories in Tashkent and owns a digital histology laboratory.