According to the data of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM), the Turkish automotive industry exported USD 35.4 billion in 2023 last year and became the leading industry exporter in Türkiye. Turkish automotive industry strengthens its position in the world in this sense and closely monitors the developments in the global sector.
World automobile sales increased by 9% in the first three quarters of 2023
European automobile sales increased by 17% in the 9 months of 2023 and will probably close the year with a growth of 12%. Electric car sales increased by 55% in the three quarters of 2023 and the share of electric vehicles will probably increase to 14.5% by the end of 2023. Also automobile sales in Europe are expected to increase by 2.5% in 2024.
Japan and US auto sales showed strong growth in the 9 months of 2023, up over 18% and 15% respectively. China’s auto market grew by 0.2% in three quarters of 2023.
Worldwide automobile sales increased by 9% in three quarters of 2023. In details, approximately 9 million cars were produced in the EU in the 9 months of 2023; it increased by 14% compared to the same period in 2022.
6 million cars were produced in the USA, it increased by 11.2 percent. China produced 17.5 million cars in the three quarters, Japan produced 5.6 million cars with a growth of 18.5% in the three quarters in 2023.
Automotive in foreign trade
EU recorded a trade surplus of EUR 70 billion, an increase of 4.7% in the three quarters of 2023, China’s exports grew by 58.1% as the largest automobile exporter to the EU.
US and UK automobile import markets grew by 62.4% and 33.2%, the export value of EU-made cars to the UK and the US increased by 28.1% and 16% in the three quarters of 2023.
Turkey’s important place in the world automotive industry
The Turkish automotive industry, which has experienced a significant structural change in the last 20 years, has turned into a sector that aims to produce sustainable production in the field of R&D, expand its competitiveness, gain design talent and export to developed markets.
Türkiye has become one of the most important production centers in the world and Europe in terms of both supply and production in the automotive industry. The Turkish automotive industry, which exports more than half of its production, also has a very important position in Europe in terms of automotive production. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), there are 322 automobile assembly, battery and engine factories in countries including EU countries, England, Türkiye, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
According to ACEA, in Europe, automobile assembly details are: 127 automobiles, 56 trucks, 46 light commercial vehicles, 118 heavy vehicles, 71 buses, 71 engine factories and 42 battery factories.
The countries with the highest number of automotive industry facilities include Germany (54), England (36), Russia (32), France (31), Italy (23), Turkey and Spain (16 each). Compared to EU members, Turkey has a very important position with its automotive industry.
Exports to EU countries up by 22 percent
According to Automotive Industry Association (OSD) figures, the automotive industry exported a total of USD 25.6 billion in the 9 months of 2023, an increase of 15 percent compared to the same period of the previous year. In the 9 months of 2023, 68.6% of Turkey’s automotive exports were made to EU countries. While exports to EU countries increased by 22 percent compared to the 9 months of 2022, reaching 17.6 billion dollars, EU countries maintained their position as the most important market in automotive exports.
USD 3.6 billion of exports to main market Germany
Automotive exports to Germany, which was USD 3.2 billion in the 9 months of 2023 with an increase of 12 percent compared to the same period of the previous year, increased to USD 3.6 billion, while to France it was USD 3.2 billion and to the UK USD 2.4 billion. Automotive exports amounted to USD 2.2 billion to Italy and USD 1.7 billion to Spain.
