About
Founded in 1926, Koç Holding has become not only one of the largest and most successful groups of companies in Turkey but also in Europe, by staying one step ahead of change throughout its journey of 80 years. Adamant in observing in all its operations the principles and ethical values of administering corporate governance, undertaking social responsibility and providing environmental protection at international standards, the Koç Group is a global player constantly moving toward its objective of duplicating its success in Turkey at the global scale.
Consumer Durables
Developments in the durable consumer goods sector
In 2014, the white goods market is estimated to have grown 2.4% and the LCD TV market by 1.6% worldwide over the prior year.

The European white goods market, one of Arceliks main markets, expanded about 4% over the previous year. While the growth in the Western European market neared 4%, the Eastern European market grew 5.6% due to rapid market growth across the region during the last quarter.

In the Middle East and North Africa, upheavals across the region have created significant pressure on the markets. The white goods market contracted over 10% in Egypt, and by nearly 3% in South Africa, the largest and most developed economy on that continent.

Turkey remained the largest production hub in Europe for the white goods sector. According to data by the Turkish White Good Manufacturers Association (BESD), exports in the white goods grew 5% year-over-year to 16.9 million units as of end-2014, while the domestic market shrank 1.8% to 6.7 million units.

Koç Holding Consumer Durables Group
While maintaining strong leadership in Turkey, Arcelik A.Ş. continued hold a significant lead in the Romanian and South African markets, with its Arctic and Defy brands, respectively.

Over the last seven years in the European white goods market, Beko has gained the largest market share to become the regions fastest-growing brand. In 2014, Beko captured the number two position in this key market. While retaining its solid position in the Middle East and Turkic Republics, Beko expanded its operations in Africa and the Gulf region. In line with its goal of market diversification, the Company increased exports to Southeastern Asia, and introduced Beko to consumers in Singapore and Thailand.

With the inclusion of the white good category into its product portfolio, the Grundig brand became the only European manufacturer to offer products in all categories of home electronics. Continuing to grow its white goods business in Scandinavia, Grundig also introduced its new line of products to consumers in the UK market in 2014. Grundig, a well-known brand recognized in many countries for its design and quality in consumer electronics, has maintained its position as one of the top five brands in the television market in Germany.
Companies
Brands
Arçelik A.Ş. Arçelik, Beko, Leisure, Arctic, Altus, Blomberg, Defy, Elektra Bregenz, Flavel

Arçelik LG Klima San. Tic. A.Ş. Arçelik LG

Brief History: From 1926 to Today Commercial life of Vehbi Koç that was to become the driving force for industrialization-modernization of the young Republic that, like a phoenix, was resurrected from its own ashes was instigated in 1917 under the title "Koçzade Hacı Mustafa Rahmi" to be the pioneer of the industrialization of Turkey.

The founding years
Vehbi Koç, who had plunged into commercial life at the age of 16 at the grocery shop established by his father, started his career in 1917 by registering on 31 May 1926 at Ankara Commercial Chamber that signaled founding of his enterprise under the name of Koçzade Ahmet Vehbi.

The first joint stock company: Koç Ticaret A.Ş.
Koç Ticaret A.Ş. was established in 1938. A particular characteristic of the company that proved to be the foundation and development center of the ventures undertaken by the Koç Group of Companies was of its being the first company in Turkey that shared its profit with its employees. It was during this period that the company received the representation of foreign companies. The first Turkish company that was ever established in USA was Ram Commercial Corporation.

First industrial venture
The approach towards manufacturing was initiated towards the end of 1940 with the light bulb factory, being the first industrial venture of Koç Community, in collaboration with General Electric.

International Partnerships
In 1960s, various different industrial plants are established in collaboration and partnership with international companies. A multitude of products such as the first automobile, the first agricultural tractor, the first refrigerator, the first laundry washer, the first bottled LPG in Turkey were manufactured by the Koç Group. During this period, Tofaş, partnered by Fiat of Italy, was established, followed by Ford-Otosan that in later years was converted into a joint venture with The Ford Company.

Expansion of fields of activity
Then came a period when Koç Group's business areas were widened considerably. The Group had now arrived at a stage where it was engaged in the manufacture of a large variety of products that ranged from automobile to white goods, from agricultural machinery to textiles, from liquid petroleum gas to heating equipment, from food industry and retailing to tourism, finance and insurance services.

Establishment of Koç Holding A.Ş.
Koç Holding A.Ş. was founded in 1963 for the purposes of achievement of the targeted rapid growth and development, adaptation of the organization towards better suitability for its goals, and to press forward for the institutionalization of the organizational structure. This was when Vehbi Koç in person was elected as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Koç Holding A.Ş.

First IPO
At the point in time when the Group had felt itself to have sufficiently ripened to create the means for guiding the public's savings towards investment that would contribute to the economic development of Turkey, the company focused on the initial public offering of its shares. Segments of Aygaz and Koç Holding's shares were sold to Koç Group's employees, and share certificates of KAV, established in 1970, were offered to the public.

Growth and Exports
It was in 1970s when the Koç Group, without any loss of its impetus, added new companies to its corporate body; headed towards exports and established foreign trade companies.

Second generation at the helm
Vehbi Koç who believed in the virtues of institutionalization, transferred the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Koç Holding to his son Rahmi M. Koç, and from that moment on, continued to work as the Honorary Chairman of the Board of the Koç Holding.

1987: Vehbi Koç "Businessman of the Year in the World"
That was the date when Vehbi Koç was awarded the title of "Businessman of the year" by the International Chamber of Commerce.

1990s: Koç Group grows in banking
Koç Holding, having taken its first step in the banking sector by collaborating with the American Express Company in Koç-American Bank, purchasing the entire stock of the company in 1992, changed its name to Koçbank.

World Population Planning Award
The United Nations World Population Planning Award was presented to Vehbi Koç on behalf of "Family Health and Planning Foundation in Turkey".

25 February 1996: Turkey's loss of "the Plane Tree of the Republic"
Vehbi Koç bids his farewell to life on 25 February 1996. Having every moment of his 95-year life spent to its full extent, Vehbi Koç kept working to the last day before his demise.

New vision for the new millennium
Koç Group entered the new millennium with a new vision: "To be one among the community of the leading companies in the world."

Financial services gathered under the same roof
In 2001, bolstered by the partnership of UniCredito Italiano, one of the foremost European banks, Koç Financial Services was established.

Third generation takes hold of the flag
On 4 April 2003, Rahmi M. Koç transfers his title of the Chairman of the Board of the Koç Holding to his son Mustafa V. Koç. He now assumes the position of the Honorary Chairman of the Board of the Koç Holding.

2005-2006: A milestone in the history of the Koç Group
As the sustainable growth rate is relentlessly kept going, Koç Group added to its portfolio the leading industrial establishment in Turkey, Tüpraş, and Yapı Kredi Bankası, one of the giants in the banking sector in Turkey.

Global Compact signed
The accountable citizenship tenet of Koç Holding in effect since its establishment was carried to an international dimension in 2006 by the signing of the United Nations Global Compact that gave it a status of official policy.

2006-2012: Focused Growth Strategy
A resolution was taken for a strategy focused on energy, automotive, durable consumption goods and finance sectors within the framework of creation of high productivity, high profitability and shareholder value appreciation.

Biggest in Turkey… One of the most admired companies in the world…
The Koç Group, in terms of its sales, exports, share in the BIST, and number of employees, is the biggest group of companies in Turkey. Considering the awards it has received in national and international platforms, and its designation as the driving force of Turkish economy, the Koç Group, constantly strengthening its status in the world, is the 341th biggest company in the world.

The Firsts In Turkey 1938
Koç Ticaret A.Ş. (Koç Trade Inc. ) is the first Turkish company to provide profit-sharing to its employees
1944
The first automobile sales company...Motör Ticaret
1945
The first Turkish Company in the U.S.A.... Ram Commercial Corporation.
1948
With Koç-General Electric cooperation, Turkey's first light bulb factory and the first joint-venture with a foreign company... General Electric
1954
The establishment of Türk Demir Döküm factories to produce the first radiators and later the first iron cast parts for the automotive industry in Turkey.
The first private producer of matches... Türkay (Kav)
1955
The establishment of Arçelik, the producer of Turkey's first washing machines, refrigerators and water heaters.
1957
Commissioning of the assembly line in Otosan which later manufactured first Turkish trucks.
1959
The production of the first washing machine...Arçelik
1960
The production of the first refrigerator... Arçelik
1961
The first Turkish LPG distribution company...Aygaz
1962
The first Turkish automobile tyre... Uniroyal
1963
The first holding company in Turkey... Koç Holding.
1964
The first cable manufacturing facility of Turkey... Siemens
The production of the first Turkish tractor.... Türk Traktör
1965
The establishment of the first electric motor and compressor producing factory...Türk Elektrik Endüstrisi
The first glass wool factory for insulation... İzocam
1966
The production of Anadol, the first Turkish passenger car ...Otosan
1967
The first and the largest private sector body to provide scholarships for higher educationTürk Eğitim Vakfı (TEV)
The first tomato paste factory...Tat
1969
First instutional enterprise Vehbi Koç Foundation
1970
The establishment of the first corporate Planning Division for long term planning in the private sector... Koç Holding
Turkey's first centralized export organization... Ram
1971
Murat 124, the first Turkish passenger car with steel body... Tofaş
1973
Production of the first cylinder blocks, axes and differential gears for the Turkish automotive industry... Döktaş
The first Turkish foreign trade company in EU countries... Kofisa
The first Turkish open public company... Koç Yatırım Pazarlama
1974
Turkey's first automatic washing machine...Arçelik
1975
The first Research & Development Division in the private sector... Koç Holding
1980
The first private museum of Turkey... Sadberk Hanım Museum
1982
The inauguration of the first in-house training and development center... KOGEM (current name is i.d.e.a.)
1997
The first on-line supermarket... Migros
1999
The first on-line shopping center... Kangurum
2000
The first market place...Kotonline
2001
Turkey's first on-line and real-time reservation enabled tourism portal... www.bookinturkey.com
2001
Turkey's first internet business portal... www.kobiline.com
2004
First Turkish coffee machine of the world...Arçelik
2005
First home produce drying machine of Turkey...Arçelik
2006
The fastest dish washer of the world...Arçelik
The fastest washing machine of the world...Arçelik
The first side bu side refrigerator of Turkey...Arçelik
2007
Turkey's first built-in hob with induction...Arçelik
Turkey’s first built-in inox series with no finger prints...Arçelik
The ultimate technology: Arçelik's “Tech-Touch” dishwasher with AAA performance “Grand Prix Series”, the “The World's Fastest Computers”...Arçelik
2009
First Turkish automotive company to have been exported to the U.S....Ford Otosan