Türkiye Is Becoming an Electric-Vehicle Hub Linking Europe and the Middle East

Türkiye’s automobile industry is moving beyond conventional vehicle production as electric cars become a mainstream part of the market. The country recorded about 1.37 million automobile and light-commercial vehicle sales in 2025, its highest total ever. Pure electric-vehicle sales reached roughly 190,000, rising about 90% in a year and accounting for around 17% of passenger-car sales.

That means approximately one in every six new passenger cars is now electric. Hybrid sales also climbed to about 295,000, showing that electrification is spreading across the market rather than remaining limited to a small group of models or buyers.

The article attributes the shift less to environmental values than to practical economics. Electric vehicles offer lower running costs and benefit from Türkiye’s tax structure, making them more attractive as inflation and energy-price volatility continue. Tax incentives, financial support and the arrival of a domestic electric-car brand have reinforced the change. Concerns about battery degradation, resale values and driving range have also eased as market data and charging infrastructure expand.

The industrial ecosystem is developing around Bilişim Vadisi, a technology park near Istanbul’s Gebze district. The hub brings together companies and research institutions working in information technology, mobility, the Internet of Things and smart infrastructure. About 130 mobility startups operate there, developing autonomous-driving systems, energy-management tools and vehicle-connectivity technology.

Türkiye’s domestic EV brand TOGG has established a research and development center at the park and is working with startups on autonomous driving, connected cars and batteries. The arrangement gives startups opportunities to validate technology and attract investment, while TOGG gains access to outside innovation.

One resident startup, identified as S, develops millimeter-wave radar sensors, motor drivers, charging modules and other vehicle-control systems. It is seeking global markets through partnerships with semiconductor manufacturers. Korean companies are also entering the sector. A Korean company identified as H plans to produce electric vehicles at a plant in Izmit in 2026, aiming to become the first foreign brand to manufacture EVs locally. The project is intended to improve price competitiveness, reduce logistics costs and support employment, reinforcing Türkiye’s role as a production base rather than merely a sales market.