Turkey's Electric Car Sales Soar as EU Market Catches Up
As the European Union wrestles with the challenges of phasing out combustion engines, a small but surprising player is catching up – Turkey. With electric vehicles (EVs) now making up 16.7% of new car sales in the country, Turkey has leapfrogged most other nations in southern and eastern Europe to become the fourth largest market for EVs.
Just two years ago, EVs were still a rare sight on Turkish roads. However, with the government's special consumption tax incentives and zero-interest credit from state-owned banks, carmakers like Togg and foreign brands like Tesla have been able to flood the market with affordable electric options.
"We've become ordinary," says Berke Astarcıoğlu, a mechatronic engineer from Istanbul who bought his first EV in 2023. "It's no longer a special treat for everyone."
The shift towards EVs has also helped Turkey tap into the lucrative global market, with China's BYD planning to build a $1 billion factory in the country. Analysts attribute the surge in demand to the significant tax incentives, which have left electric cars only slightly more expensive than comparable petrol cars.
"It's purely economical," says Ufuk Alparslan, an analyst at climate thinktank Ember. "Turkish people don't buy electric vehicles because it's eco-friendly – they do it because running costs are lower."
As the country prepares to host the UN climate summit, Turkey is facing a critical juncture in its efforts to transition towards sustainable mobility. While analysts say that foreign carmakers like Tesla have benefited from the Togg-friendly tax system by reducing motor power to fall into a more favorable bracket, there are concerns about the long-term sustainability of this approach.
"The tax incentives are very fragile and can change easily," warns economist Baki Kaya, who co-wrote a report on Turkey's energy imports. "It's not the result of a strategic decision – I'm personally not that optimistic it will continue."
The Turkish government does not have a dedicated EV strategy, but Togg has emerged as a major player in the market, with plans to increase production from 40,000 cars in 2025 to 60,000 in 2026.
"Electric vehicles gained the heart of Turkish buyers," says Berkan Bayram, founder of the Turkish Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Association. "It's time for policymakers to take a closer look at how to make EV adoption more permanent."
As the European Union wrestles with the challenges of phasing out combustion engines, a small but surprising player is catching up – Turkey. With electric vehicles (EVs) now making up 16.7% of new car sales in the country, Turkey has leapfrogged most other nations in southern and eastern Europe to become the fourth largest market for EVs.
Just two years ago, EVs were still a rare sight on Turkish roads. However, with the government's special consumption tax incentives and zero-interest credit from state-owned banks, carmakers like Togg and foreign brands like Tesla have been able to flood the market with affordable electric options.
"We've become ordinary," says Berke Astarcıoğlu, a mechatronic engineer from Istanbul who bought his first EV in 2023. "It's no longer a special treat for everyone."
The shift towards EVs has also helped Turkey tap into the lucrative global market, with China's BYD planning to build a $1 billion factory in the country. Analysts attribute the surge in demand to the significant tax incentives, which have left electric cars only slightly more expensive than comparable petrol cars.
"It's purely economical," says Ufuk Alparslan, an analyst at climate thinktank Ember. "Turkish people don't buy electric vehicles because it's eco-friendly – they do it because running costs are lower."
As the country prepares to host the UN climate summit, Turkey is facing a critical juncture in its efforts to transition towards sustainable mobility. While analysts say that foreign carmakers like Tesla have benefited from the Togg-friendly tax system by reducing motor power to fall into a more favorable bracket, there are concerns about the long-term sustainability of this approach.
"The tax incentives are very fragile and can change easily," warns economist Baki Kaya, who co-wrote a report on Turkey's energy imports. "It's not the result of a strategic decision – I'm personally not that optimistic it will continue."
The Turkish government does not have a dedicated EV strategy, but Togg has emerged as a major player in the market, with plans to increase production from 40,000 cars in 2025 to 60,000 in 2026.
"Electric vehicles gained the heart of Turkish buyers," says Berkan Bayram, founder of the Turkish Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Association. "It's time for policymakers to take a closer look at how to make EV adoption more permanent."
! It makes total sense that people are jumping on the bandwagon when running costs are lower 
. I've been saying it for ages, go green and save those euros 
. But, gotta be real, the long-term sustainability of these tax incentives is a major concern 
. Can't just rely on cheap perks to drive change, you know? 
The Turkish government needs to get its strategy together and make EV adoption more permanent 
. It's time for policymakers to listen to the people (and experts like Berkan) and create a solid plan 
. We can do this, Turkey! 
They're making it affordable for people to switch to EVs, which is perfect. It's not just about saving money on gas but also reducing our carbon footprint 
. The fact that carmakers like Tesla are investing in the market shows there's a real demand for sustainable cars. We should definitely be looking out for more eco-friendly policies from the Turkish government 
. And I'm loving how Togg is leading the way with their innovative approach! 
.
Guess we'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out.
. And I love how Berke's saying that EVs are no longer a special treat for everyone, because who doesn't want to save some cash on fuel? 
. I think that's such a great point, and it shows that consumers are smart about making financial decisions. And I'm a bit worried about the tax incentives being fragile and potentially changing 