By Yeliz Candemir
ISTANBUL--Ford Otomotiv Sanayi AS, the Turkish unit of Ford
Motor Co. (F) in partnership with Koc Holding AS (KCHOL), said
Friday that it has resumed production at its two plants after a
brief suspension due to a labor protest hitting its supply
lines.
"Since the part supply problem is resolved, manufacturing
operations have started in Golcuk and Yenikoy Plants effective from
May 21 night shift," Ford Otosan said in a statement to the stock
exchange.
The car maker, based in Kocaeli just east of Istanbul, said on
Wednesday that it halted production at its two plants due to the
parts supply shortage caused by labor actions in some automotive
suppliers operating in the Bursa region, where employees at Renault
SA's Turkish manufacturer, Oyak Renault, halted work, demanding
higher wages.
On Monday, local automaker Tofas Turk Otomobil Fabrikasi
AS--manufacturer of Fiat, Citroen, Peugeot, Opel and Vauxhall
vehicles--also stopped production as employees downed tools. The
work-stoppage protests also spread to auto parts manufacturers in
Bursa, an hour south of Istanbul.
After the announcement, Ford Otosan's shares were trading 1.7%
higher at 36.60 Turkish lira, compared with a 0.6% drop in the
broader BIST-100 Stock Index. The company is 18% publicly owned,
with Ford and Koc holding a 41% stake each. Meanwhile, Tofas shares
were down 0.5% to trade at TRY18.25.
Write to Yeliz Candemir at yeliz.candemir@wsj.com