Speaking at the 8th SteelOrbis Turkish Steel Market Conference held in Istanbul on November 29, Professor Ercan Tezer, general secretary of Turkey's Automotive Manufacturers Association (OSD), said that next year the Turkish automotive industry is expected to enjoy a better sales performance in its export markets as compared to the current year, while the same cannot be said for the domestic market.
The recession in the European economy, he said, has not only impacted Turkey's auto exports to the region, but has also caused a surge in Turkey's auto imports from the European Union, as European automakers have implemented special sales strategies for the Turkish market. The political instability in the Middle East and North Africa has narrowed Turkey's export markets, Tezer said, adding that Turkish automobile exports to the US are increasing.
In the first ten months this year, Turkey's auto imports rose by 20 percent, while its auto exports increased by 15 percent, mostly due to the introduction of four new models, according to the OSD general secretary. Turkey's automobile production is expected to reach 1,150,000 units this year.
Professor Tezer remarked that the auto production target of Turkey for the year 2023, the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Republic, at four million units is unrealistic given the actual annual growth average, while he went on to say that bureaucratic incentive measures are needed in order to reach this political goal.
