BMC

“When I became acquainted [with Erdoğan], I saw that divine love is possible between two men”

BMC Chair, Ethem Sancak

Overview

Previously a British company, BMC was bought out by Çukurova Holding of Turkey in 1989. The company was seized by the Turkish state in 2013, and put under the control of the Prime Minister’s office. BMC was put up for sale, and purchased by Ethem Sancak, a businessman close to president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Since then, BMC has been awarded the contract to produce the Altay ‘national’ battle tank. The company currently boasts that it adds $10 billion dollars to the value of the Turkish economy.

BMC provides Turkey’s military with Kirpi vehicles (MRAP) which withstand improvised explosive device (IED) attacks. In 2017, Turkey announced that it would be buying more Kirpi armoured vehicles.

Collaboration with Germany’s Rheinmetall

Since 2016, BMC has been collaborating with Rheinmetall in Germany.

Basic company information

Global Presence: Headquartered in Izmir, supplies civilian buses outside Turkey. Exports to 80 countries.

Business area: Military and civilian vehicles, tanks.

Ownership: ES Mali Yatırım ve Danismanlik, owned by Ethem Sancak

People: Ethem Sancak (Chair)

Founded: 1964

Website: bmc.com.tr

Joint ventures: Rheinmetall BMC Defense Industry (RBSS) and Etika Strategi SDN BHD, Malaysia

Take action

• Protest BMC’s participation in the biannual DSEI arms fair, to be held in London this September.

• Protest against Germany’s Rheinmetall and Malaysia’s Etika Strategi, calling on them to break their partnerships with BMC.