Automotive Ekports March 2024

Monthly automotive aftermarket magazine 

GROUP CHAIRMAN 

H. FERRUH ISIK 

PUBLISHER: 

İstmag Magazin Gazetecilik 

İç ve Dış Ticaret Ltd. Şti. 

Managing Editor (Responsible) 

Mehmet Söztutan 

mehmet.soztutan@img.com.tr 

Advertising Sales Consultant 

Adem Saçın 

+90 505 577 36 42 

adem.sacin@img.com.tr 

Enes Karadayı 

enes.karadayi@img.com.tr 

International Marketing Coordinator 

Ayca Sarioglu 

ayca.sarioglu@img.com.tr 

Advisory Editor 

Yusuf Okçu 

yusuf.okcu@img.com.tr 

Finance Manager 

Cuma Karaman 

cuma.karaman@img.com.tr 

Digital Assets Manager 

Emre Yener 

emre.yener@img.com.tr 

Technical Manager 

Tayfun Aydın 

tayfun.aydin@img.com.tr 

Graphic & Design Advisor 

Sami aktaş 

sami.aktas@img.com.tr 

Accountant 

Yusuf Demirkazık 

yusuf.demirkazik@img.com.tr 

Subsciption 

İsmail Özçelik 

ismail.ozcelik@img.com.tr 

HEAD OFFICE: 

İstmag Magazin Gazetecilik 

İç ve Dış Ticaret Ltd. Şti. 

Ihlas Media Center 

Merkez Mah. 29 Ekim Caddesi No: 11B / 21 

Yenibosna Bahcelievler, Istanbul / TÜRKİYE 

Tel: +90 212 454 22 22 

www.img.com.tr sales@img.com.tr 

KONYA: 

Metin Demir 

Hazım Uluşahin İş Merkezi C Blok 

Kat: 6 No: 603-604-605 KONYA 

Tel: (90.332)238 10 71 Fax: (90.332)238 01 74 

PRINTED BY: 

İHLAS GAZETECİLİK A.Ş. 

Merkez Mahallesi 29 Ekim Caddesi İhlas Plaza 

No:11 A/41 Yenibosna–Bahçelievler/ İSTANBUL 

Tel: 0212 454 30 00 

www.ihlasmatbaacilik.com 

Mehmet Soztutan, Editor-in-Chief 

mehmet.soztutan@img.com.tr 

Competitive and innovative… 

Actually, thanks to the perfect location and easy transportation opportunities, 

global automotive companies benefit from Türkiye and they make huge 

investments to expand their production in Türkiye. The Turkish automotive 

components industry reaches into many different sub-sectors of activity. The 

producers of parts and components have attained high standards reflected by 

large export volumes to the Western countries. There are numerous producers of 

automotive components and services in Türkiye. 

It should be noted that opening up a country’s market to the international markets 

allows a country more efficient production and allocation of resources as the 

country can concentrate on the production of goods in which it has a comparative 

advantage based on its factor endowments. 

Thus, world trade markets allow producers and consumers of the participating 

countries to benefit from lower prices, higher-quality products, more diverse 

supply of goods, and higher growth as it is the case for the Turkish automotive and 

auto spare parts industry. 

As part of its commitment to transforming its automotive industry, which has 

historically been a key economic driver in integrating the Turkish economy with the 

global value chain, and to its vision of making Türkiye an economic powerhouse, 

Türkiye has recently introduced its own locally-developed born-electric car built 

upon strength stemming from the country’s long-standing know-how in the area. 

Türkiye offers a supportive environment on the supply chain side. There are around 

1,100 component suppliers supporting the production of OEMs. With the parts 

going directly to the production lines of vehicle manufacturers, the localization rate 

of OEMs varies between 50 and 70 percent. 

Türkiye is home to many global suppliers. There are more than 250 global suppliers 

that use Türkiye as a production base, with 30 of them ranking among the 50 

largest global suppliers. 

Our publications remain at the service of those business people seeking to increase 

their share in the increasingly competitive automotive markets. 

This month, we will participate in Equip Auto Algeria, 2024 to convey the message 

of Turkish automotive exporters. 

We are convinced that fairs and exhibitions would be instrumental to increase 

business opportunities in the automotive industry. 

We wish Turkish automotive exporters and their trading business people 

lucrative business. 

automotiveexport 

EDİToR 

automotiveexports

Auto sales reach record 

1.23 million last year 

February 2024 

Türkiye’s auto market expanded more than 57 percent 

last year from 2022, with passenger cars and light 

commercial vehicle sales hitting an all-time high of 1.23 

million. From January to December 2023, a total of 

967,342 passenger cars were sold in Türkiye, marking 

a robust 63.2 percent increase from the previous year. 

Light commercial vehicle sales rose more than 39 

percent to 265,294. 

The rising star of the market last year was electric 

vehicles (EVs). EV sales soared 833 percent in 2023 

compared with 2022 to reach 72,179 units, according 

to the data from the Automotive Distributors and 

Mobility Association (ODMD). 

In December alone, 12,078 EVs were sold in the 

country, pointing to a remarkable 695 percent year-onyear 

increase, led by Togg, Türkiye’s first indigenous 

EV company. In the month, Togg delivered 6,011 

vehicles, which brought the number of cars the 

company sold in the whole of 2023 to 19,583. 

U.S. carmaker Tesla sold 12,150 vehicles in 2023 in 

Türkiye, with sales in December alone standing at 550 

units. Türkiye’s electric vehicle market is expected to 

continue to grow at a fast pace well into 2024, with 

EV sales forecast to reach 100,000 units, according to 

experts. 

The auto market grew 38 percent in the final month of 

last year as the combined sales of passenger cars and 

light commercial vehicles hit 158,653 units. 

The year-on-year increase in passenger cars slowed 

from nearly 40 percent in November to 37.7 percent 

in December. Last month, 158,653 passenger cars 

were sold, which was higher than the 115,000 sales 

recorded in the previous month. The slowdown in the 

pace of annual growth in passenger car sales started 

in August. The year-on-year sales eased from 118 

percent in July to 85 percent in August, further losing 

pace in September (55.9 percent) and October (55.4 

percent). Representatives from the industry expect 

auto sales to decline between 35 percent to 40 percent 

in 2024. Vehicle sales will be around 750,000 units next 

year, where they were in 2020, they predicted. 

Bülent Kılıçer, senior assistant general manager at 

Honda Türkiye, said last month that difficulties with 

accessing loans and prohibitively high prices of brandnew 

cars would be the main factors hindering sales. 

The automotive industry’s export performance was 

also strong last year, with shipments to foreign markets 

increasing 13 percent from 2022 to surpass $35 billion, 

corresponding to 15.8 percent of Türkiye’s overall 

export revenues last year. 

10

Türkiye’s new domestic electric 

vehicle expected to hit road in 2024 

Following a recent boom in Türkiye’s electric vehicle 

market (EV) spearheaded by the first homegrown car, 

Togg, a new domestic car brand named “VERY” is 

gearing up to hit the roads in 2024, according to a 

report. 

The electric car “VERY” is set to be produced through 

the Yıldız Technical University (YTU) “EVRY” initiative 

established within Yıldız Technopark, one of Türkiye’s 

leading technology research and development (R&D) 

centers. The serial production of the new domestic 

automobile brand has been scheduled to commence in 

2025 as pre-orders start, according to a report. 

The “VERY” will be produced entirely by local 

engineers and designers in four different models at 

Yıldız Technopark. 

The new generation electric car, designed to weigh no 

more than 400 kilograms (881 pounds) when unladen, 

was developed in 300 days by the “EVRY” team, a 

technology company established to develop products 

and software in the field of mobile systems. 

The vehicle, which seats four people in the sedan 

model, will also have a pick-up, two-seater convertible 

and ‘autonomous’ models capable of carrying loads up 

to 500 kilograms in industrial facilities. 

The electric motor, battery unit, software, remote 

control applications and autonomous driving features 

of the vehicles were developed by the same team of 23 

people. 

Providing information on the features and production 

process, the co-founder of “EVRY Teknoloji,” Yosun 

Karasu, noted that the approval process for the electric 

cars with a range of 300-350 kilometers for the Turkish 

market has been completed. 

“We are (actually) developing technology in the field 

of electro-mobility. Our focus is not just to produce a 

vehicle and step aside. We are more inclined to grow 

a technology company that will provide solutions to 

mobility issues,” he said. 

March 2024 

12

“We thought we could express ourselves more 

accurately by showcasing these technologies on 

vehicles. We chose a car model classified as L7, saying, 

‘Let it be a product that serves sustainability,’” Karasu 

explained. 

“One can travel at a maximum of 90 km (55.92 miles) in 

city traffic, and one person can travel alone with a 2-ton 

vehicle. This is completely contrary to sustainability. 

Therefore, choosing the L7 segment is more correct. 

Downsizing the types of vehicles will have a positive 

impact on traffic flow and the environment,” he added. 

Furthermore, touching upon the motor and battery 

characteristics, Karasu said, “We offer a 400-volt 

electric motor, designed and produced by us, a gearbox 

that provides multiple gear options and three different 

battery options with 11 kilowatt-hours (kwh), 22kwh and 

33kwh capacity options.” 

“They have an average weight of 35 kilos. We were 

able to reduce the weight of the engine we developed 

for the vehicle to 16 kilos. This is a very serious weight 

advantage for us.” 

Highlighting the R&D study conducted to determine 

the most accurate features based on user experiences, 

Karasu noted they attached importance to vehicleto-vehicle 

charging support and the backup battery 

feature. 

The company, which submitted a project application 

to YTU Yıldız Technopark in September 2022, was 

established in November 2022, while the prototype was 

completed in February 2023. 

Expressing their goal of offering vehicles with an 

accessible pricing policy, Karasu noted it “would not 

be right to provide the figure at the moment.” “We have 

150 pre-orders. We want to deliver these orders by the 

end of 2024,” he noted, adding that they were looking 

for a place with a production capacity of 800 vehicles 

for the pre-serial production line. 

“This will be a temporary location. Pre-orders will also 

be available here. In fact, we have a capacity report 

of 120 vehicles annually at our location in YTU Yıldız 

Technopark. (But) since we want to go above and 

beyond, we plan to spend the next year in a temporary 

production facility,” he explained. 

“We are planning a factory investment of 10,000 

vehicles for mass production in 2025. The factory 

will be established in Bursa, Tekirdağ or Kocaeli,” 

concluded Karasu. 


14

Türkiye’s EV maker Togg unveils 

its sedan model before Europe debut 


Türkiye’s first homegrown electric vehicle maker 

announced the expansion of its lineup and unveiled 

its second model at the sprawling tech and gadget 

show in Las Vegas as it looks to start its expansion into 

Europe. 

The fastback sedan, the T10F, joins Togg’s debut 

model, the fully electric T10X SUV, and is scheduled 

to go on sale in Türkiye next year and then in the 

European market, according to the company. 

“We will introduce the T10F, a fastback reflecting the 

spirit of the times, to our users starting from Türkiye in 

2025,” Togg CEO Gürcan Karakaş said. 

Unveiled at CES, the annual high-tech gadget 

extravaganza, the model will be offered with three 

technical options and two equipment options. 

The T10F RWD (rear-wheel drive standard) with 160 

kW/218 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque will have a 

range of 350 to 600 kilometers (217.48 to 372.82 miles) 

with two different battery options. 

The T10F AWD (all-wheel drive) version, which has a 

0-100 km/h acceleration of 4.6 seconds and produces 

700 Nm of torque, targets a range of around 530 

kilometers. The standard-range model has a battery 

capacity of 52.4 kWh, while this capacity increases to 

88.5 kWh in the long-range model. 

The new model will also feature the innovative V2L 

(Vehicle-to-Load) capability, enabling the transfer of 

electric power from the battery to various electric 

devices. 

Togg is currently producing the T10X at its plant in the 

northwestern Bursa province. The production started 

in October 2022 before deliveries were launched last 

April. 

Besides the SUV and fastback, Togg will manufacture 

three other models – a C-hatchback, B-SUV and 

B-MPV – by 2030. 

Addressing the rationale behind choosing a fastback 

design for their second smart device, Karakaş 

highlighted the declining market share of sedan models 

worldwide. 

He emphasized the shift toward fastback models 

and said the T10F has been designed to meet sedan 

users’ expectations while capturing the zeitgeist 

with dynamic, appealing designs targeting a broader 

audience. 

Karakaş acknowledged that Türkiye remains a 

16

substantial market for sedans, but the worldwide trend 

is shifting toward electric vehicles with more diverse 

styles and dynamic lines, such as liftback, fastback, 

and coupe designs. 

The T10F is a version that is more advanced than the 

prototype first unveiled in 2019, he noted. 

“We have come up with a product that captures the 

spirit of the time, is dynamic, highly appealing, and will 

address a broader audience,” Karakaş said. 

“We are considering entering the market, most likely in 

2025, depending on completing the certification.” 

Togg’s current production capacity is said to reach 

100,000 vehicles per year before increasing to 175,000 

once the Bursa plant reaches full capacity. 

The brand aims to manufacture 1 million vehicles 

across the five segments by 2030. 

Togg has delivered around 20,000 T10Xs to date and 

plans to more than double that figure this year. “Our 

business plan for 2024 includes around 47,000 units, 

and we are considering a small portion of this for 

export,” said Karakaş. 

Karakaş shared Togg’s ambition to enter the European 

market, with Germany as their initial target by the end 

of 2024. 

“We are establishing our presence in Germany. We aim 

to enter the German market and expect to do so by the 

end of this year,” he noted. 

On the infrastructure side, Togg has been establishing 

a charging station network across Türkiye under a 

brand named Trugo. 

It has set up more than 500 rapid chargers with 

capacities ranging from 180 to 300 kilowatts, enabling 

an 88-kilowatt battery to be charged in under half an 

hour. Karakaş stressed plans to launch battery cell 

production as of 2026 and said they aim to position 

Türkiye as one of Europe’s hubs in the battery domain. 

“When you start producing the battery cell yourself, 

you become familiar with the cost and technology of 

one of the most valuable products inside the vehicle,” 

he noted. Describing a significant transformation in the 

development of technology in Türkiye and the shift of 

suppliers toward next-generation vehicles, Karakaş 

stated, “We are also on the path to make our country 

one of Europe’s energy centers in terms of batteries.” 

Karakaş highlighted the company’s commitment to 

exhibiting not only its automotive brand and strategic 

goals but also its expanding portfolio of digital 

platforms and smart devices. 

“Alongside the T10F, we are also showcasing at CES 

our digital experience platform and clean energy 

solutions that are ready to enter global markets.” 


17

Equip Auto Algeria 2024 --International Trade Show 

for Automotive Aftersales and Services for Mobility 

Dive into the heart of this year’s must-see automotive 

event! Equip Auto Algeria 2024 invites you to an 

exceptional experience at the Palais des Expositions 

– Pins Maritimes – SAFEX Algiers from March 4 to 

7, 2024. The show is much more than just a trade 

fair: it’s a real business generator, bringing together 

the key players in the automotive aftermarket and 

maintenance sectors. Meet industry professionals, 

explore new products and services, and be inspired by 

industry leaders. Equip Auto Algeria is your gateway 

to success in the North African market. Don’t miss this 

unique opportunity to expand your network, find new 

customers, and boost your business! 

The event includes the sectors such as Automobiles, 

Automotive Parts, Automotive Services, Service 

Station Supply, Bicycles, Motorcycles by focusing 

mainly on: 

distributors, repair professionals and fleet managers 

from Algeria, the Middle East and North Africa. 

At the heart of a new expanding environment of 

commercial and industrial dynamism, The EQUIP 

AUTO ALGERIA welcomes 10,320 professional visitors 

today. The visitors come essentially for the distribution 

of trade in import and export (50%). 


Bodywork , Painting Equipment , Accessories, 

Repair – Maintenance, Troubleshooting- Networks, 

Washing Services. 

EQUIP AUTO Algeria is the only Algerian trade fair 

specialising in automotive aftersales, repairs and 

maintenance, covering both light vehicles and heavy 

goods vehicles. EQUIP AUTO ALGERIA, genuine 

business generator in the automotive aftersales 

and maintenance ecosystem, your gateway to the 

North African market. Meet your future business and 

industrial partners at EQUIP AUTO ALGERIA. EQUIP 

AUTO ALGERIA attracts a visiting public that grows 

each year, with an 89% satisfaction rate. Visitors are 

22

UTOPROMOTEC 2025: YESTERDAY AND TODAY 

The 30th edition of Autopromotec, the most 

specialized international exhibition of automotive 

equipment and aftermarket products, will be held May 

21 – 24, 2025 at the Bologna Trade Fair Center. 

Branded from its earliest beginnings as an 

“international exhibition”, Autopromotec (back then 

called SARP – Exhibition of Tyre Retreading Equipment) 

was born in 1965 in Rome thanks to an AIRP (Italian 

Tyre Retreaders Association) initiative meant to 

give visibility to the technological developments 

experienced by the retreading sector in those years. 

In 1967 the exhibition, now held in Bologna, launched 

the biennial formula still popular nowadays. A new 

phase begins in 1973, and SARP is partnered with 

SIAC (International Exhibition of Equipment, Car 

repair garages and Car body shops), and in 1991 

the two exhibitions join together to form one, called 

Autopromotec. The big turning point occurs in 2005, 

when Autopromotec includes new product sectors 

such as spare parts, components and car service to 

embrace the whole automotive aftermarket. 

Today Autopromotec represents a selection of 

specialized trade shows where attendees can, 

thanks to the division of the show floor into sectorrelated 

halls, plan custom-made visits based on their 

professional interests. The exclusive approach adopted 

by Autopromotec makes the show a showcase of 

cutting edge technologies, innovations, new products 

and market opportunities which are a benchmark for 

the sector. The exhibition has established an enviable 

reputation as a specialized, representative and 

professional event for highly qualified exhibitors (only 

manufacturers and authorized dealers) and, in its fiftyyear 

history, it has kept pace with the technological 

and professional growth of the automotive sector, 

becoming a must-see for the supply and demand 

network. Autopromotec is the place where business 

opportunities turn into global networking strategies. 


24

China’s BYD replaces Tesla as 

world’s top electric vehicle maker 

China’s electric vehicle producer BYD unseated Elon 

Musk’s Tesla, according to latest statistics released. 

The U.S.-based car manufacturer run by billionaire 

Musk delivered 484,507 vehicles in the fourth quarter 

of 2023, said a company filing – up more than 11% 

from the previous quarter. 

But this increase was not enough to maintain Tesla’s 

crown as the world’s top battery electric vehicle 

producer and seller, as Chinese rival BYD reported 

sales of 526,409 for the same period. 

These figures underscore the challenges Tesla will 

likely face this year, from competitors keen to capitalize 

on the growing demand for EVs.Tesla’s stock slipped 

after the news was announced, before regaining 

ground. As well as besting Tesla in pure electric vehicle 

sales, BYD sold more than 400,000 plug-in hybrid 

electric vehicles in the fourth quarter. In total, it sold 

more than three million passenger vehicles last year. 

However, Tesla was still the top seller of EVs on an 

annual basis, delivering more than 1.8 million vehicles 

to customers in the year to December, well above 

BYD’s sales figure of just under 1.6 million. 


26

Global EV Sales to Hit a New Record with 

Almost 12M Units and $623B in Revenue in 2024 


After a modest 3% growth last year, the global electric 

vehicle market is back on track to hit a new record. 

With global demand for electric cars rising despite 

their high price tag, this year is set to witness more 

new EVs on the road than ever. According to data 

presented by Stocklytics.com, global EV sales are 

expected to hit almost 12 million units in 2024, the 

highest figure this market has ever seen. Although tax 

incentives have made electric vehicles like Tesla (TSLA) 

a bit more accessible, they still cost much more than 

gas cars. Last year, the new EV cost about $52,800 

on average, too much for many people, and 2024 

is expected to see similar prices. Their above-theaverage 

price tags, slower sales growth, and growing 

inventories have spooked carmakers last year, with 

some even reconsidering their EV plans. But despite 

these challenges, the global demand for electric vehicles 

continues to rise. A Statista survey shows global EV 

sales have tripled since 2020, rising from 3.1 million 

to 10.64 million sold vehicles. In 2021 alone, sales 

skyrocketed by a whopping 107% year-over-year, 

followed by a 55% growth in 2022. After a modest 3% 

increase last year, the annual EV sales growth rate is 

expected to triple and hit 10% in 2024, resulting in 

almost 12 million new EVs on the road, the highest figure 

the market has ever seen. With electric vehicles playing 

a central role in the ambitious objective of zero-emission 

targets set for 2050, Statista expects global EV sales to 

keep accelerating in the following years. By 2028, the 

market is expected to hit over 17 million sold units, or 

40% more than this year. Revenue in the electric vehicle 

market will also skyrocket in this period. According to 

Statista, the global EV industry will gross over $623bn in 

2024, or 11% more than last year. This figure is expected 

to grow by an average of 10% per year and climb to 

more than $900bn by 2028. While EV sales continue to 

accelerate globally, the regional differences are still high 

and will remain similar in the future. As an electric vehicle 

powerhouse, China will make up 57% of total sales in 

2024, with 6.8 million sold units. This figure will jump to 

8.7 million by 2028, but China`s market share will slip to 

51%. Statists show that EV sales in the United States 

and Europe are far below these figures. Americans are 

expected to buy close to 1.3 million electric vehicles 

this year, or 10% of global sales. However, EV sales 

in the United States are expected to double and hit 

almost 2.5 million units by 2028, making 14% of the 

world`s total that year. Although Europe experienced a 

slowdown in EV sales in the past two years, compared 

to the exceptional growth seen in 2020 and 2021, the 

old continent will remain the second-largest electric 

vehicle market with 3 million sold units and a 25% share 

in 2024. By 2028, total sales will jump to over 4.8 million, 

while the European market share will increase to 28%. 

30

Türkiye’s automotive industry 

competitive more than ever 

The foundation of Türkiye’s automotive industry 

dates back to the early 1960s. During a period of 

rapid industrialization and progress, this key sector 

transformed itself from assembly-based partnerships 

to a full-fledged industry with design capability and 

massive production capacity. Since 2003, original 

equipment manufacturers (OEM) have invested over 

USD 17 billion in their operations in Türkiye. These 

investments significantly expanded their manufacturing 

capabilities, which in turn led Türkiye to become an 

important part of the global value chain of international 

OEMs. Meeting and exceeding international quality and 

safety standards, today’s Turkish automotive industry is 

highly efficient and competitive thanks to value-added 

production. As part of its commitment to transforming 

its automotive industry, which has historically been a 

key economic driver in integrating the Turkish economy 

with the global value chain, and to its vision of making 

Türkiye an economic powerhouse, Türkiye has 

introduced its own locally-developed born-electric car 

built upon strength stemming from the country’s longstanding 

know-how in the area. 

Accordingly, Türkiye’s Automobile Joint Venture 

Group, known as Togg, will produce five different 

models on a joint platform with fully-owned 

intellectual and industrial property rights by 2030. 

Leveraging a competitive and highly-skilled workforce 

combined with a dynamic local market and favorable 

geographical location, the vehicle production of 8 

global OEMs in Türkiye has increased by almost five 

times from 300,000s in 2002 to over 1.3 million units in 

2022. This represents a compound annual growth rate 

(CAGR) of around 6 percent during that period. 

• Significant growth posted by Türkiye’s automotive 

sector led to the country’s becoming the 13th largest 

automotive manufacturer in the world and 4th largest in 

Europe by the end of 2022. 

• Türkiye has already become a center of excellence, 

particularly with respect to the production of 

commercial vehicles. By the end of 2022, Türkiye was 

the number one producer of commercial vehicles (CVs) 

in Europe. 

• Proven as a production hub of excellence, the Turkish 

automotive industry is now aiming at improving its 

R&D, design, and branding capabilities. As of 2022, 

156 R&D and design centers belonging to automotive 

manufacturers and suppliers are operational in Türkiye. 

• Notable examples of global brands with product 

development, design, and engineering activities in 

Türkiye include Ford, Fiat, Daimler, AVL, and FEV. 


32

Ford Otosan’s R&D center is one of Ford’s three largest 

global R&D centers, while Fiat’s R&D center in Bursa is 

the Italian company’s only center serving the European 

market outside its home country. 

Meanwhile, Daimler’s R&D center in Istanbul 

complements the German company’s truck and bus 

manufacturing operations in Türkiye. AVL Türkiye, 

which opened up its 2nd R&D center in Türkiye, 

develops autonomous and hybrid vehicle technologies. 

• Türkiye offers a supportive environment on the supply 

chain side. 

There are around 1,100 component suppliers 

supporting the production of OEMs. With the parts 

going directly to the production lines of vehicle 

manufacturers, the localization rate of OEMs varies 

between 50 and 70 percent. 

• Türkiye is home to many global suppliers. There are 

more than 250 global suppliers that use Türkiye as a 

production base, with 30 of them ranking among the 

50 largest global suppliers. 

•Auto manufacturers increasingly choose Türkiye 

as a production base for their export sales. This 

is evidenced by the fact that 73 percent of vehicle 

production in Türkiye was destined for international 

markets in 2022. Türkiye exported more than 950,000 

vehicles to international markets in the same year. In 

addition, Türkiye has been the number one vehicle 

exporter to European markets for around a decade. 


34

Human Horizons Breaks Records in World’s 

Biggest EV Range Test with the HiPhi Z 

Human Horizons, a leading company in automotive 

innovation, celebrates a remarkable achievement as 

the HiPhi Z dominates the world’s biggest EV range 

test, surpassing its rivals with an impressive 522km 

journey in cold weather conditions. This significant 

milestone further solidifies HiPhi Z’s position as a 

frontrunner in winter driving performance. 

The test, organized by the Norwegian Automobile 

Federation and Motor magazine, aimed to establish 

an industry standard for electric vehicle range and 

charging speed. Out of the 23 participants, only one 

car had a deviation of less than 10 percent from 

the certified WLTP test numbers, and the HiPhi Z 

exceeded expectations with a deviation of only 5.9 

percent. In total the HiPhi Z was able to achieve 522km 

beating all of its rivals including those that theoretically 

had a longer WLTP certified range. 

This exceptional achievement can be attributed to 

the revolutionary Efficient Thermal Management 

System developed in-house by Human Horizons. 

The CrossLoop Efficient Thermal Management 

System, a result of Human Horizons’ cutting-edge 

thermal integration technology, combines an efficient 

heat pump AC HVAC system with an intelligent 

and efficient E-Powertrain thermal management 

system. This integration creates an energy-saving, 

efficient, comfortable, and intelligent thermal system, 

outperforming competitors in the industry. 

Navigating through the treacherous Dovrefjell terrain, 

facing the challenges posed by storm “Ingunn,” the 

HiPhi Z triumphed with its unwavering performance. 

Despite the road closure over Venabygdsfjellet, the 

HiPhi Z demonstrated unmatched endurance, covering 

522km with exceptional comfort and minimal deviation. 

Simen Zimmermann, the testing driver, commended 

the HiPhi Z’s cabin for providing exceptional warmth 

and comfort throughout the journey. He states, “It was 

only towards the end, the last kilometers, that it started 

slowing down. It glided smoothly over the mountain, 

passing several stopped cars from the test.” 

Mark Stanton, Co-Founder, Chief Technical Officer, 

and European Program President of Human Horizons, 

expressed his pride in the HiPhi Z’s extraordinary 

achievement, stating, “Tireless innovation and 

unique technology development is at the heart of 

our company, and our team is not only proud of this 

recognition but also the exceptional comfort the HiPhi 

Z demonstrated.” 

The exceptional feat of the HiPhi Z underscores its 

prowess in adverse conditions, setting a new standard 

for cold-weather endurance and performance. As the 

automotive industry continues to evolve, HiPhi Z emerges 

as a true contender, ready to redefine the boundaries of 

what is possible in the world of electric vehicles. 


36

Auto sales, all time high, total 

1.23 million last year 


Türkiye’s auto market expanded more than 57 percent 

last year from 2022, with passenger cars and light 

commercial vehicle sales hitting an all-time high of 1.23 

million. From January to December 2023, a total of 

967,342 passenger cars were sold in Türkiye, marking 

a robust 63.2 percent increase from the previous year. 

Light commercial vehicle sales rose more than 39 

percent to 265,294. 

The rising star of the market last year was electric 

vehicles (EVs). EV sales soared 833 percent in 2023 

compared with 2022 to reach 72,179 units, according 

to the data from the Automotive Distributors and 

Mobility Association (ODMD). 

In December alone, 12,078 EVs were sold in the 

country, pointing to a remarkable 695 percent year-onyear 

increase, led by Togg, Türkiye’s first indigenous 

EV company. In the month, Togg delivered 6,011 

vehicles, which brought the number of cars the 

company sold in the whole of 2023 to 19,583. 

U.S. carmaker Tesla sold 12,150 vehicles in 2023 in 

Türkiye, with sales in December alone standing at 550 

units. Türkiye’s electric vehicle market is expected to 

continue to grow at a fast pace well into 2024, with 

EV sales forecast to reach 100,000 units, according to 

experts. The auto market grew 38 percent in the final 

month of last year as the combined sales of passenger 

cars and light commercial vehicles hit 158,653 units. 

The year-on-year increase in passenger cars slowed 

from nearly 40 percent in November to 37.7 percent in 

December. 

Last month, 158,653 passenger cars were sold, which 

was higher than the 115,000 sales recorded in the 

previous month. 

The slowdown in the pace of annual growth in 

passenger car sales started in August. The yearon-year 

sales eased from 118 percent in July to 85 

percent in August, further losing pace in September 

(55.9 percent) and October (55.4 percent). 

Representatives from the industry expect auto sales to 

decline between 35 percent to 40 percent in 2024. 

38

Türkiye exports defense 

industry products to 185 countries 


Türkiye has increased its annual exports of defense 

industry products by 27 percent in the year 2023, the 

head of the defense industry presidency has said, 

informing that around 230 different products were sold 

to 185 countries in the world. Turkish Defense Industries 

President Haluk Görgün evaluated the performance of 

his agency in 2023 and informed the targets set for 2024 

at a meeting with Ankara bureau chiefs of the media 

outlets in the Turkish capital on January 12. 

“I can say that we have fully achieved the targets set 

for 2023 in every field,” Görgün stressed, informing that 

one of the efficient ways to measure the success of his 

agency is the exports of defense industry products. 

“In the year 2023, we have broken the record in terms 

of the exports of the defense industry products. Our 

defense industry exports increased by 27 percent 

compared to 2022 and reached a total of $5.5 billion,” 

Görgün stated. He also informed that new contracts 

with a total value exceeding $10 billion were also 

signed in 2023. 

“This is the reflection of the confidence towards our 

defense industry,” he underlined, describing the 

growing Turkish defense industry as the rising star 

of Türkiye. Görgün recalled that the Turkish defense 

industry products were sold to 170 countries in 2022 

and that this number increased to 185 countries in 

the past year. “We are exporting around 230 different 

defense industry products,” he said. Türkiye has 

become one of the top exporters of drones and armed 

drones in recent years as these products have proven 

their quality in both Türkiye and in the countries they 

are being used. 

“For us, the fact that our products are being sold 

and efficiently used by our friends and allies is good 

evidence of the success of our industry,” he stated. 

Türkiye is among five countries that can produce 

advanced armed drones and among 10 countries 

that can produce submarines and other sea vessels, 

Görgün recalled. “We are of the opinion that 

Türkiye’s deterrence in the face of the changes in the 

geopolitical balances can only be possible through a 

strong and national defense industry capacity.” 

There will be many good news stories regarding 

the defense industry achievements in the year 

2024, Görgün vowed, informing that Türkiye’s first 

indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet, KAAN, will 

perform its first flight. 

“KAAN will soon take off. But, at the same time, 

we have already started our works for the sixth 

generation warplanes,” Görgün said, adding that 

KAAN will use the engines to be fully developed and 

produced by national resources. 

On a question, Görgün announced that Türkiye has 

suspended its demand to supply drone cameras 

from Canada, which has been imposing arms sale 

restrictions to the former. “We have suspended this 

process. We are producing much better ones, and 

very soon the serial production of the drone cameras 

will begin this month,” the president said. 

Türkiye has already been producing an older fashion 

of these cameras and was exporting them to 15 

countries, he recalled, stressing that the new ones 

will be one of the best being used in the world. 

42

Nur Plastik redefines place mats 

The company does not compromise on flexibility 

and quality by using recycled materials 

Providing stylish, robust and safe mounting of vehicle 

license plates, which are environmentally friendly and 

easy-to-use, Nur Plastik offers the most competitive 

products to the automotive aftermarket industry. We 

asked the story of the company to Muammer Dikmen, 

proprietor of Nur Plastik Automotive Products. 

Could you briefly introduce yourself and your 

company? 

Nur Plastik started to operate in 1992 with the license 

plate mats it produced. It has expanded its product 

range and is the preferred company in the sector with 

mats, key holders, auto odor and other promotional 

products added to its product range. 

Product diversity, product quality, sales speed, R & 

D and production work, working with the principle 

of customer orientation, has become the leading 

manufacturer in Turkiye by gaining the appreciation 

of the sector. In Istanbul, plastic injection molding, 

coating, CNS, digital printing, and a 3000 m 2 closed 

area factory area with a laboratory. 

It started to invest in 2018 for the processing of 

magnesium plates used in printing processes, 

embossed printing processes, molding methods and 

established the 3rd production facility in the world 

and the first in Turkiye. A strategic product certificate 

has been obtained, state-supported projects and 

investments are ongoing. 

What is in your product portfolio and what are the 

prominent factors in these products? 

The variety of products that provide stylish, robust 

and safe mounting of vehicle license plates, 

environmentally friendly and easy-to-use features are 

the main features that make our products stand out in 

our products. 


44

What kind of studies do you have on product 

development and R&D? 

Product development in license plate production 

continues regularly and in line with the needs of the 

sector, and easier to use, economical, innovative and 

environmentally friendly products are registered as 

utility models. 

For magnesium, improvements and developments 

continue with the strategic product certificate and 

state-controlled supports. 

What are the features that make you superior to 

your competitors? 

The sales network established with regular visits and 

follow-ups in 81 provinces across Turkiye, full customer 

satisfaction, speed and consumer-oriented approach, 

commercial activities with manufacturer / distributor 

companies, product quality have enabled our company 

to differentiate and outperform its competitors. 

Are there any investments planned in the short, 

medium and long term? 

In the last few years, our machine park has been 

updated with energy-saving, environmentally friendly 

injection molding machines and our investments 

continue. 

An overseas production facility investment is planned 

in the future. 

What would you like to say about your current and 

target markets, foreign promotion, fair participation 

etc. strategies? 

Currently, exports are realized to 14 countries through 

distributors and direct sales method and it is aimed 

to reach many new customers in a short time with the 

factory investments planned abroad. Nur Plastik has 

been exporting its products both at home and abroad. 

Our company regularly participates in Automechanika 

and promotion fairs. 


45

Türkiye earmarks $20 billion by 

2030 to ramp up energy efficiency 


Türkiye announced plans for about $20 billion (nearly 

TL 600 billion) of energy efficiency investment by 2030 

through collaboration between the public and private 

sectors, seeking to achieve billions of dollars in energy 

savings and curb carbon dioxide emissions. 

Heavily dependent on imports for its energy needs, 

Türkiye has injected vast capital to expand and 

strengthen its infrastructure and energy networks and 

strives to address climate change and secure a cleaner 

energy future. 

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan 

Bayraktar emphasized energy efficiency as one of 

the most important policy tools for ensuring supply 

security, increasing industrial competitiveness, 

reducing dependence and minimizing the effects of 

climate change by 2030. 

“We are launching a new energy efficiency movement 

to strengthen energy supply security and reduce 

external dependence as part of a sustainable and 

environmentally conscious energy policy,” he said, 

adding that the initiative aligns with the country’s 2053 

net zero climate targets. 

Bayraktar was speaking at the launch of Türkiye’s 

Energy Efficiency 2030 Strategy and Action Plan. He 

said the country was starting to implement the Second 

National Energy Efficiency Action Plan, to be executed 

between 2024 and 2030. 

The program envisages about $20 billion investment 

in energy efficiency schemes by 2030, pledging to 

reduce energy consumption and fossil fuel emissions, 

he noted. 

“By implementing our action plan, we will reduce our 

energy consumption by 16% by 2030 and contribute 

to a reduction of 100 million tons of emissions. To 

achieve these goals, the public and private sectors will 

invest $20 billion in energy efficiency by 2030,” said 

Bayraktar. 

Through the investment, “we aim to save $46 billion 

worth of energy by 2040,” he noted. “We will produce 

new job opportunities by supporting companies 

46

operating in the field of energy efficiency.” 

Bayraktar also noted that Türkiye was one of two 

countries that improved its energy intensity the most in 

the world for two consecutive years in 2021 and 2022. 

While the global energy intensity improvement in 2022 

was realized as 2% on average, Bayraktar explained 

that Türkiye’s energy intensity dropped by 6.2% in 

2022, dubbing it a “record development.” 

Addressing the need for energy transformation and 

achieving targets, the minister outlined priorities, 

including increasing the use of renewable energy 

sources, utilizing nuclear energy and natural gas as 

transition fuels, exploring hydrocarbon resources, 

strengthening energy infrastructure and investing in 

hydrogen, critical minerals, storage and digitization 

technologies. 

He stressed that developing and promoting local 

production in all areas of energy is a primary focus. 

Türkiye has managed to increase overall power 

generation while simultaneously cutting coal generation 

thanks to an aggressive rise in clean power deployment 

from wind, solar and hydro installations. 

The country has an ambitious plan to triple its 

renewable energy capacity by 2053 as it strives to 

become a carbon-neutral economy. About 55% of 

its installed power capacity is currently derived from 

renewable energy sources. The rate makes it fifth in 

Europe and 12th in the world. It ranks fourth globally 

and first in Europe in terms of installed geothermal 

capacity. It is second in Europe and ninth in the 

world in terms of installed capacity of hydroelectric 

power plants. It plans to add about 5,000 megawatts 

of offshore wind power to its energy portfolio in 

the coming years. Ankara provides incentives for 

renewable energy generation and will start operating 

the first reactor at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant 

in 2023. The plant is expected to produce up to 10% 

of Türkiye’s electricity once all four reactors are in 

operation. The government has said it plans additional 

nuclear plants. Türkiye’s natural gas consumption 

dropped 8% year-over-year in 2023 to 51.48 billion 

cubic meters (bcm), according to official data. Seeking 

to curb its dependence on external resources, Türkiye 

has been developing the 710 bcm natural gas field 

in the Black Sea, which was gradually discovered in 

August 2020.In April 2023, it started pumping gas 

from the Sakarya field off the northwestern Zonguldak 

province into the national grid through a pipeline linked 

to an onshore processing plant. The daily production of 

gas from the reserve stands at around 4 million cubic 

meters (mcm). Bayraktar underlined the role of energy 

efficiency applications as crucial tools in achieving 

net-zero transformation on the supply side and 

complementary on the demand side. 

“We believe that achieving energy efficiency is possible 

without compromising physical comfort and social 

well-being and without reducing production or service 

quality,” he asserted. 


48


Fırat Dilgin the company official of Doğu Otomotiv 

Doğu Otomotiv, a 

reliable supplier of 

spare parts 

The company offers competitive auto 

aftermarket products for passenger and 

commercial vehicles 

Doğu Otomotiv, a reliable supplier in the auto spare 

parts industry, not only sells wholesale and retail sales 

of reputable foreign brands, but also develops its own 

brand “DGU Parts” group. We asked the success story 

of the company to Fırat Dilgin, the company official of 

Doğu Otomotiv: 

Could you indicate the main milestones that your 

company has achieved since its establishment? 

Founded in 2017, our company “Doğu Automotive 

Spare Parts” has managed to make a sound both in 

the country and abroad in a very short time with its 

customer-oriented approach since its establishment. 

A significant part of our product portfolio is FORD 

original spare parts and the industry’s recognized 

original AFTERMARKET brands such as FOMOCO, 

LUK, VALEO, SACHS, BOSCH, MAHLE, FAG, DELPHI, 

FTE, VISTEON, DAYCO etc. We carry out wholesale 

and retail sales of brands. 

In addition, with our own brand “DGU Parts”, we are 

expanding our product range especially in the FORD 

passenger and commercial segment. 

In addition, especially in line with the special demands 

of our foreign customers, we provide spare parts for all 

passenger and commercial vehicle brands at affordable 

prices. As of 2017, we have started to serve all over 

Turkiye with wholesale buying and selling services and 

strengthened our business partnership with important 

companies of the market. We provide direct service to 

our customers all over Turkiye with online B2B system 

and sales representatives. 

As of 2018, we have opened to foreign markets by 

realizing our first export. Our current export markets 

are Russia, Georgia, England and North African 

countries. 

As of the beginning of 2020, we started the opening 

of our Retail Stores and we continue our growth with 

the understanding of reasonable price, fast and quality 

service to our customers with both Wholesale and 

Retail stores in Ford spare parts. 

As of 2021, we started to realize the domestic and 

international production and sales of our own products 

with our “DGU Parts” brand, which we launched. 

We will continue to expand our business network with 

our Istanbul-based company, 3 different retail branches 

and 1 wholesale operation warehouse. 

Thanks to our experienced staff in the sector at the 

points of pre-sales and after-sales service, service 

transfer and customer satisfaction, we continue our 

long-term business partnerships with our customers 

who have started cooperation with us. 

What is in your product portfolio? 

First of all, we carry out wholesale and retail sales 

of FORD Original Spare Parts and the industry’s 

recognized original aftermarket brands such as 

FOMOCO, LUK, VALEO, SACHS, BOSCH, MAHLE, 

FAG, DELPHI, FTE, VISTEON, DAYCO etc., which 

constitute a significant part of our product portfolio. 

In addition, with our own brand “DGU Parts”, we are 

expanding our product range especially in the FORD 

passenger car and commercial segment. 

In addition, we provide spare parts for all passenger 

and commercial vehicle brands with reasonable prices, 

especially in line with the special demands of our 

foreign customers. 

What kind of remarkable feedback do you receive 

from your customers who use your products? 

The feedback from our customers is always positive, 

especially for our own brand and all other valuable 

commercial brands that we sell. Since the quality of 

the products is globally approved, there is no room 

for question marks. Rather, we receive very positive 

feedback from our customers for our reasonable price 

and quality service understanding. 

50

Are there any aspects that you are ahead of your 

competitors, and if so, what are they? Are there 

any issues such as quality, price, innovation, 

environmental awareness, after-sales service, etc. 

that you are ahead of? 

Since our competitors also sell the same products, our 

difference is that we realize our products in a way that 

stands out with reasonable prices and short shipment 

times.Thanks to our experienced staff in the sector in 

pre-sales and after-sales service and all service transfer 

issues, we maintain a long-term cooperation with our 

customers who have started cooperation with us. 

Could you tell us about your exports, current export 

markets and target markets? 

Our current export markets are Russia, Uzbekistan, 

Georgia, Georgia, England and North African countries. 

In line with our target markets, our negotiations 

continue for the European and Central Asian markets. 

How do you evaluate participating in fairs abroad? 

What are the fairs you have attended or plan to 

attend? 

We attach great importance to fair participation both 

abroad and domestically. We see it as an important 

platform for coming together and meeting with 

valuable business partners all over the world. We try to 

participate in all fairs in the Auto Spare Parts sector. 

Do you have anything to add about your company 

or your sector? 

As we mentioned above, with our understanding of 

quality service, it will continue to be our first priority 

to strengthen and grow our cooperation with our 

customers for many years and to strengthen our place 

in the market. 

Wholesale Operation Store 


51

Türkiye among top European electric car markets 


The upward trend in drivers seeking to go green helped 

Türkiye outpace many European countries in electric 

vehicle (EV) sales in 2023, in a momentum propelled by 

the nation’s first homegrown battery-powered car and 

the entry of several new brands. 

Sales of fully electric cars in Türkiye reached a record 

65,562 units throughout last year – an 844.4% yearover-year 

increase – according to the Automotive 

Distributors and Mobility Association (ODMD). EVs 

accounted for 6.8% of the total sales, up from just 

1.2% in 2022. 

The figure means Türkiye left behind many EU member 

states such as Italy, Spain, Austria, Denmark and 

Finland, according to a report by Anadolu Agency. 

The rise has not been limited to fully electric cars, 

as their gasoline-electric hybrid rival also gained 

significant momentum and saw sales increase by 

62.8% to 104,804 units last year. 

The overall passenger car and light commercial vehicle 

market in Türkiye achieved a historic milestone as 

sales surpassed 1.2 million units in 2023, marking a 

57.4% year-over-year increase. The earlier annual alltime 

high stood at 984,000 units in 2016. 

According to ODMD data, passenger car sales 

increased by 63.2% throughout the year, reaching 

967,341 units, while the light commercial vehicle 

market saw a 39.2% increase, reaching 265,924 units. 

Sales of gasoline-fueled vehicles rose 58.1% to 

646,385 units. The combined sales of fully electric and 

hybrid cars reached 170,366, surpassing diesel car 

sales which totaled 133,374 units. 

The market share of gasoline cars dropped to 66.8%, 

from 69% in 2022. Diesel cars’ share declined from 

17.4% to 13.8%, while that of hybrid vehicles fell from 

10.9% to 10.8%. 

The record EV share was driven by the first homegrown 

brand Togg and the entry of new players like Tesla. The 

course of the year saw electric cars’ share in monthly 

sales surpass 10% in August, compared to just 2% in 

April. 

EV sales in December surged by 643% compared 

to the previous year, totaling 11,289 units, the data 

showed. In December alone, they comprised 9% of 

total car sales. 

Togg topped the list and delivered 19,583 of these, 

while Tesla, entering the market in April, achieved 

approximately 12,150 sales. Chinese automaker BYD, 

which started operations in Türkiye in November, 

delivered 839 units. 

Togg is currently producing a fully electric C-segment 

52

SUV. The brand launched the production of its T10X in 

October 2022 before it started deliveries in April a year 

later. It is due to unveil its sedan model at CES 2024, 

the world’s largest technology trade show. 

According to ODMD data, the number of brands selling 

at least one electric model in Türkiye increased to 27 

as of October 2023, compared to less than 10 in 2021. 

The upward trend of EVs in the Turkish automotive 

market remains notably higher compared to European 

counterparts. Fully electric car sales in the EU 

increased by 48.2% year-over-year from January 

through November 2023, reaching 1.37 million units, 

according to the data released by the European 

Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). 

Italy saw 59,462 sales, Spain 45,716, Denmark 52,886, 

and Finland 27,435. Germany led the 27-member EU 

with 469,565 units, followed by France with 260,864 

and the Netherlands with 103,330 units. 

Sweden ranked fourth with 100,698 sales, and Belgium 

came in fifth with 86,823. 

The 11-month sales in Türkiye totaled 54,273 units, 

making it rank seventh in Europe just after Italy. 


54

Everrati completes cold weather testing of 

electric land rover series ahead of delivery 

of first us commissioned model 


While the new vehicle will spend most of its life in a 

much more temperate area of North America, it has 

been fully signed-off by Everrati’s expert engineering 

team as part of an intensive cold weather programme 

in Vermont, New England, further underlining the 

company’s application of OEM-grade standards to the 

design, engineering, and quality of its products. 

Over recent months, the first US commissioned Series 

IIA has undergone a rigorous validation programme, 

covering all components, with particular focus paid to 

the performance and reliability of its state-of-the-art 

OEM-grade electric powertrain. Encompassing high 

altitudes and cold weather, such as snow and extreme 

low temperatures, Everrati’s team ensured high-voltage 

reliability and tested charging functionality. Alongside 

hot weather testing, the team has now validated the 

vehicle for all climates. 

Meticulously redefined as a cutting-edge EV, offering 

a unique blend of heritage, luxury and sustainability, 

every Series IIA commission is first fully restored from 

the ground up, with Everrati then integrating its own 

e-powertrain, designed, and developed at its global 

headquarters in Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, England. 

The result is a fully futureproofed vehicle fit for the 21st 

century which can drive in near silence and emissionfree 

in any city across the globe. 

Completing cold weather test in the US is the latest 

example of how Everrati is setting new standards, its 

Series IIA already passing electric vehicle safety testing 

in 2022, achieving UN-ECE R100.01 at the Netherlands 

Vehicle Authority – RDW, the only electrified classic of 

its type to do so in the world. 

Justin Lunny, Co-Founder and CEO of Everrati said: 

“Everrati’s OEM-grade engineering, design, and quality 

processes continue to raise the bar in the electrified 

classic sector. The Land Rover Series, like all our 

models, represents the pinnacle of zero-emission icons 

and this latest example of our OEM-grade approach 

just underlines how we are going the extra mile in this 

rapidly growing market. 

“Our redefined Land Rover Series IIA combines 

a complete restoration with the integration of our 

proprietary OEM-level electric powertrain, preserving 

the vehicle’s legacy and enabling it to be enjoyed by 

generations to come. I can’t wait for us to hand over 

this first US customer commission to its new owner, 

who can be sure they are receiving the ultimate in 

redefined icons.” 

With a 60kWh battery and 150bhp and 300 Nm from its 

electric motors, Everrati’s Land Rover Series IIA offers 

both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive modes 

and a range of up to 150 miles, almost identical to its 

combustion-engined past, combined with regenerative 

braking, AC and DC fast charging capability. The 

company now offers its Land Rover Series builds both 

88” and 109”, and multiple roof configurations. 

Combined with the very latest in sustainable luxury 

materials, including the world’s lowest carbon leather 

for the automotive industry from leading leather 

manufacturer, Bridge of Weir, it further highlights 

Everrati’s overall mission for sustainable luxury. 

The development of Everrati’s leading powertrain 

technology is supported by a robust network of 

extremely experienced and best-in-class partners and 

suppliers to deliver OEM-grade products, processes, 

and quality. Everrati’s leading portfolio of redefined 

automotive icons includes electric versions of the 

Porsche 911 (964) Coupe, Targa, Cabriolet and RSRinspired 

edition, G-Series based ST-inspired edition, 

Range Rover Classic, Land Rover Defender, Land 

Rover Series, GT40, and Mercedes-Benz W113 SL 

‘Pagoda’. 

58

Toyota plant raided amid probe 

into world’s top-selling carmaker 


Japanese transport officials raided a Toyota-affiliated 

plant after the company admitted to cheating on 

engine testing, as the firm reported it maintained its 

status as the world’s top automaker in 2023, selling 

11.2 million vehicles. 

Hours after the probe began at Toyota Industries 

Corp.’s plant in Hekinan, Aichi Prefecture, central 

Japan, Toyota Chairperson Akio Toyoda vowed to steer 

the company out of scandal and ensure the Japanese 

automaker sticks to “making good cars.” 

“My job is to steer the way for where the overall group 

should go,” Toyoda said. He apologized, bowing 

deeply and stressed the group vision was rooted in 

the Toyoda founding family’s ideas of empowering the 

“genba,” or the workers on the plant floor, “to make 

good cars that lead to people’s happiness.” 

The testing scandal comes at a time of otherwise 

stellar performance for Toyota, which makes the 

Camry sedan, Prius hybrid and Lexus luxury models. 

Its group global vehicle sales for 2023 were a record 

11.22 million units, up 7% from the previous year and 

topping Volkswagen AG Germany’s global sales of 9.2 

million vehicles. 

Toyoda spoke in a news conference that was livestreamed 

from a memorial hall in Nagoya that serves 

as a museum for the founding family. 

Sakichi Toyoda invented the automated weaving loom. 

His son Kiichiro Toyoda, Akio’s grandfather, founded 

Toyota Motor Corp. 

Reporters were called to Toyota’s Tokyo office, where 

its CEO Koji Sato, who succeeded Toyoda, apologized 

60

for the latest mess: flawed testing at Toyota Industries 

Corp., which makes diesel engines. 

That followed the discovery by a whistleblower that 

Daihatsu Motor Corp. had been cheating on its testing 

for decades. Daihatsu makes small cars and is 100% 

owned by Toyota. 

Officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, 

Transport and Tourism enter Toyota Industries’ Hekinan 

factory for an inspection in Hekinan, Aichi Prefecture, 

Japan, Jan. 30, 2024. (AFP Photo) 

In 2022, Hino Motors, a truck maker that’s also part of 

the Toyota group, said it had systematically falsified 

emissions data dating back as far as 2003. 

No major accidents have been reported in connection 

with any of the cheating. But production has been 

halted on some of the models, including the 10 models 

affected by the latest cheating. 

Japan’s business daily Nikkei reported the alleged 

violations at Toyota Industries occurred because 

management would not listen to workers who had 

questioned an overly aggressive development plan for 

engines. 

Sato has acknowledged that Toyota group companies 

need better communication and education about 

complying with rules. The latest problem affects 

models including Land Cruiser and Hilux sport utility 

vehicles sold in Japan, Europe, the Middle East, Africa 

and Asia, but not in North America. 

In an unrelated quality problem, Toyota and General 

Motors Co. told owners of about 61,000 older Corolla, 

Matrix, RAV4 and Pontiac Vibe models, mostly in the 

United States, to stop driving them because their 

Takata airbag inflators are at risk of exploding and 

hurling shrapnel. 

The urgent warning covers certain Corolla compact 

cars and Matrix hatchbacks from the 2003 and 2004 

model years, as well as the RAV4 small SUV from 2004 

and 2005. Also covered are about 11,000 Pontiac 

Vibes from 2003 and 2004, which are essentially 

the same as the Matrix and were made at the same 

California factory. Missteps at automakers often are 

related to pressures to bring down costs, said Daisuke 

Uchida, a professor at Keio University who specializes 

in corporate governance. 

“Something may have gotten lost in translation in 

the communication between management and those 

working on the ground,” Uchida said. 

Analysts say the impact on Toyota’s earnings from 

the group companies’ problems is likely to be limited 

because their sales and profits are a small fraction 

of Toyota’s overall global earnings. Toyoda did not 

present a concrete plan for action but instead mused 

on the humble roots of his family business and the 

importance of believing in invention. Toyota has 

weathered turbulent times in the past, he said. 

“We must never lose sight of where we all began.” 


62

Türkiye hails $100B services export mark, 

narrowing current account gap 


Trade Minister Ömer Bolat hailed the fact that Türkiye 

managed to exceed the $100 billion mark in services 

exports for the first time ever in 2023, as he noted an 

improvement in the country’s current account balance 

due to the narrowing trade gap. 

Bolat’s remarks came a day after the balance-ofpayments 

data published on Tuesday showed the 

country’s current account balance ended 2023 with a 

lower-than-expected deficit of nearly $2.1 billion (TL 

64.52 billion) in December. 

The shortfall in 2023 as a whole came in at $45.2 

billion, according to the data by the Central Bank of the 

Republic of Türkiye (CBRT). 

Bolat attributed the improvement in the balance to a 

decrease in the trade deficit as of the second half of 

last year. The current account is the most complete 

measure of trade because it includes investment 

flows and trade in merchandise and services. A deficit 

means Türkiye is consuming more from overseas than 

it is selling abroad. Narrowing the gap and reaching 

a surplus were among the main goals of President 

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s economic plan in recent years. 

However, sharply rising oil, gas and grain prices after 

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused it to widen until 

mid-2023.The deficit surged from $7.2 billion in 2021 to 

$48.8 billion in 2022. 

“Service exports have reached the $100 billion 

mark for the first time. There has been a significant 

improvement in the current account balance due to 

the decrease in the trade deficit in the second half of 

2023,” Bolat wrote on social media platform X, formerly 

known as Twitter. 

“It is expected that the decline in the current account 

deficit will continue in 2024,” Bolat said. 

Analysts also described the latest data as a significant 

improvement that is likely to continue this year, 

propelled by a decrease in the trade gap and an 

increase in tourism revenues. 

Bolat said the shortfall declined by $14.9 billion from 

$60.1 billion in May, highlighting a positive trend in 

the annualized current account deficit since last July, 

as Türkiye reversed its policy sharply and delivered 

aggressive interest rate hikes. 

The shift is aimed at taming inflation, which runs at 

nearly 65%, reducing chronic deficits, rebuilding 

foreign exchange reserves, and stabilizing the Turkish 

lira. Bolat cited the impact of a 43.2% decline in the 

foreign trade gap to $4.6 billion in December. He also 

noted that travel revenues, which fall under services, 

renewed their record to reach $48 billion. 

“In line with the export strategies we have implemented 

and the support we provide to increase both goods 

and service exports, as well as our import policies 

aimed at protecting domestic producers against unfair 

competition, we continue our efforts in collaboration 

with our stakeholders to ensure the sustainability of 

the positive trend observed in the current account 

balance,” said the minister. 

“Our goal is to strengthen the necessary 

macroeconomic stability for permanent improvement in 

the current account balance and sustainable increase 

in prosperity.” 

The 2023 deficit amounted to 4.1%-4.2% of gross 

domestic product (GDP), down from 5.4% a year 

earlier. The government’s medium-term program, 

announced in September, forecasts a gap of $34.7 

billion by the end of 2024. The deficit-to-GDP ratio is 

projected to fall to 3%. 

64

Turkish automotive industry 

kicks off 2024 with record exports 


The Turkish automotive industry kicked off the new 

year achieving its highest January export with nearly 

$2.78 billion (TL 85.6 billion), a 2.5% rise when 

compared to the same month a year ago, data from 

the Uludağ Automotive Industry Exporters’ Association 

(OIB) showed. 

The share of the sector, which holds the top position 

in the country’s exports, accounted for 16.2% of all 

shipments realized. 

In January, the highest external sales, with a 3% surge 

compared to the same month a year earlier, amounted 

to $1.17 billion in the “supply industry” product group. 

Exports of passenger cars decreased by 13% to 

$772.89 million while exports of motor vehicles for 

the transport of goods increased by 27% to $504.66 

million. At the same time, exports in bus-minibusmidibus 

exports rose by 61% to $160.7 million while 

tractor exports dove by 10% to $139.89 million. 

The country’s overall exports last month hit a record 

level for January with $20.03 billion, increasing by 

3.6% on a yearly basis, the trade minister announced. 

In January, the largest market of the Turkish automotive 

sector was Germany with exports at $417 million. It 

was followed by the United Kingdom at $333 million, 

showing an increase of 11% year-over-year. 

Exports to France, the third largest market saw a 

decline of 4% to $272 million, according to the data. 

Last month, significant export increases were recorded 

for Italy (31%), Slovenia (19%), Romania (19%), 

Morocco (39%), Portugal (41%) and Algeria (424%). 

Meanwhile, an increase of 1% was observed in exports 

to EU countries in the same period, respectively. 

Exports to the European Union, which took the lead in 

the country group with a 67.5% share in total exports 

surged slightly to $1.87 billion. At the same time, 

exports in the group classified as “other European 

countries,” picked up by 12%, while exports to Africa 

were up by 35%. 

“We reached the highest January export in the history 

of the sector at the beginning of the year,” said Baran 

Çelik, chairperson of the OIB board of directors. 

“Exports of motor vehicles for the transport of goods 

and buses-minibuses-midibuses increased by double 

digits. We recorded high percentage increases in Italy, 

Slovenia and Romania,” he said. 

While the automotive sector’s exports posted 

significant overall increases, the recent industry data 

indicated that vehicle sales also remained strong in 

January, adding to momentum observed throughout 

last year. 

Nearly 80,000 passenger cars and light commercial 

vehicles were sold across the country last month, 

marking a 56.6% year-over-year rise, the data from 

the Automotive Distributors’ and Mobility Association 

(ODMD) showed. 

Passenger car sales surged 71.7% annually to 

64,041 in January, while the light commercial market 

expanded by 15.1% from a year earlier with 15,660 

units sold. 

Nearly 10,206 hybrid cars and 3,973 electric cars were 

sold in Türkiye in the first month of 2024, making 16% 

and 6.2% of total automobile sales, respectively. 

68

Automotive Ekports March 2024

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?