- Turkey’s EV sales surged in the first five months, with a 326.64% increase compared to the previous year.
- Hybrid vehicles also saw significant growth, rising by nearly 60% in sales.
- The introduction of Turkey’s first indigenous electric vehicle, the Togg T10X, contributed to the sales boost.
Electric vehicle (EV) sales in Turkey have surged in the first five months of this year.
The release of the country’s first homegrown EV, the Togg T10X, has played a significant role in driving a large portion of this growth.
According to data from the Automotive Distributors and Mobility Association (ODMD), battery-powered car sales from January to May totalled 7,526 units. This represents a staggering 326.64% increase compared to the previous year’s figures of 1,764 EVs.
In May alone, sales skyrocketed by an impressive 457.18%, with 2,095 units sold compared to 376 in May 2022.
The sales of hybrid vehicles also witnessed substantial growth. Year-over-year, sales rose by nearly 60% to reach 37,988 units. EVs accounted for 2.21% of total sales in the first five months, up from 0.82% last year. Hybrid vehicles claimed an 11.17% market share, compared to 11.09% in the previous year.
Overall vehicle sales experienced a notable surge as well. In May, a total of 111,356 passenger cars and light commercial vehicles were sold, marking a 70.9% year-over-year increase. This figure represents a 69.1% increase compared to the average May sales over the past decade. Sales figures from January to May demonstrate a significant 60.5% increase compared to the previous year, with a total of 445,006 units sold.
Turkey’s first domestic EV release has driven the surge in demand by increasing availability. Cars are also perceived as a means to protect against high inflation.
The recent launch of the Togg T10X, has played a crucial role. In May, the T10X accounted for 4.07% of the market share, ranking second only to the Mokka SUV.
Togg plans to manufacture four additional models by 2030, including a sedan, C-hatchback, B-SUV, and B-MPV. When the Togg factory reaches its maximum potential, it will increase the current production capacity of approximately 100,000 vehicles per year to 175,000.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has set a target of producing 28,000 Togg vehicles this year. At the T10X’s release, the president stated:
“Togg was born as a symbol of the technological development, economic development and global reputation of our country”
With Togg’s success in Turkey, we can see the power of domestic EV production. Turkey is a relatively young EV economy, and the TX10 has proved a resounding success.
The aim is to manufacture one million vehicles across all segments by 2030. Togg also plans to begin exporting its vehicles starting in 2025, initially focusing on the domestic market before expanding globally.
Domestic EV production has been a regular talking point lately with the introduction of the US Inflation Reduction Act, and the UK’s upcoming tariffs on imported EV components. It remains to be seen whether these acts will lead to more localised successes such as the TX10.
