General Mobile takes its strategic ODM cooperation with Foxconn, which started in 2021, to a new stage. The company is shifting some of the production, R&D and supply chain processes carried out in Vietnam to Turkey, making its facility in Kağıthane a more active center in the production of 5G products, broadband solutions and smartphones. The Foxconn and General Mobile partnership is moving to Turkey. General Mobile is expanding its production ecosystem in Turkey within the scope of its ODM cooperation with Foxconn.
İlkay Cihaner, the company’s Deputy General Manager Responsible for Strategy and Business Development, announced that the partnership with Foxconn, which started in 2021, is progressing with production, R&D and supply chain management in Vietnam, and that production, especially for the European market, will be shifted to Turkey in the new period. According to Cihaner, the production for General Mobile in Foxconn’s Vietnam facility is planned to be moved to the facility in Kağıthane.
General Mobile’s factory in Kağıthane has an annual production capacity of 4.2 million units. Work is being carried out at this facility for the production of high-tech devices such as 5G modem products. The company’s production plan in Turkey is not limited to smartphones only. General Mobile wants to take part in the European and US markets with a wider product portfolio, with 5G technologies, broadband solutions and high value-added device production.
Negotiations continue for a significant portion of the production in large operator tenders in Northern Europe to be carried out in Turkey. Turkey’s geographical proximity to Europe was one of the prominent topics in the production plan. Logistics times, which take 30 to 60 days by ship from the Far East, are expected to be reduced to a few days via Türkiye. In the long term, General Mobile wants to expand its direct export model instead of transit trade by making European shipments via Türkiye.
Separate preparations are also being made for the US market. İlkay Cihaner stated that 2,000 5G modems passed field tests within the scope of the cooperation with one of the largest mobile operators in the USA. It was stated that the products to be offered to the US market will be 5G mobile modems and broadband devices rather than phones. These products are positioned as high-speed and cyber security-oriented 5G mobile modems that can connect 100 users at the same time.
Cihaner said that processors of Chinese origin are not preferred in R&D processes due to sensitivities in the US market. General Mobile plans to introduce its first products to US users this year. Another product on General Mobile’s agenda is the domestic foldable smartphone. The company continues its work on this model. Cihaner stated that if the planned schedule progresses, the device will meet users in October. The model will be launched as Turkey’s first domestic foldable smartphone.
The company’s statements also included a remarkable evaluation of smartphone prices. Cihaner said that he expected an increase in phone prices due to problems in helium gas supply and the increase in memory prices. It was stated that helium gas is one of the basic substances used in cleaning the plates called wafers in chip production. According to Cihaner, there is approximately 6 months of helium stock in the sector.
As these stocks decrease, pressure on chip production may increase. It was stated that the prices of memory used in phones increased 2-3 times in some segments, and increased from 5 dollars to 50 dollars in some items. Manufacturers are trying to balance prices with existing low-cost stocks, but new component costs are expected to be reflected in prices in the future. According to the evaluation made by General Mobile, phone prices in Turkey may increase by up to 40 percent at the end of 2026 compared to 2025.
Cihaner said that the cost increase has become more evident, especially in entry-level devices, and manufacturers are focusing more on mid-segment devices.
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