The Rise of Electric Vehicles in Turkey: A New Era in Transportation
In 2016, Berke Astarcıoğlu was among a mere 44 individuals in Turkey to purchase a battery electric vehicle (BEV). Fast forward to 2023, and the landscape had shifted dramatically, with BEVs comprising 7% of all new car sales in the country. By 2025, Turkey had rapidly advanced in the electric vehicle market, becoming the fourth largest in Europe, trailing only behind Germany, the UK, and France.
Astarcıoğlu, a mechatronic engineer from Istanbul, reflected on the change, noting that what once was a premium product in his Tesla had become commonplace. In 2025, BEVs accounted for 16.7% of new car sales in Turkey, closely following the EU average of 17.4%. Despite lagging behind countries like the Netherlands and the Nordics, where BEVs dominate the market, Turkey outpaced many nations in southern and eastern Europe.
Turkey’s transformation aligns with a worldwide trend of emerging markets rapidly adopting electric vehicles. This shift comes as Turkey prepares to host the UN climate summit, coinciding with the EU’s recent decision to ease its 2035 ban on new combustion engine vehicles.
The surge in electric vehicle adoption in Turkey can be attributed primarily to economic factors. According to Ufuk Alparslan, an analyst at the climate thinktank Ember, the financial advantage of lower running costs drives the market, rather than environmental concerns. Turkey’s consumption tax structure has made electric vehicles only marginally more expensive than their petrol counterparts, sustaining high sales even after tax increases in August.
In the EU, efforts to phase out combustion engines have faced significant opposition from the automobile industry, with emissions from vehicles rising by 17% since 1990. Conversely, Turkey lacks a dedicated electric vehicle strategy but has supported domestic manufacturers like Togg. By 2024, Togg surpassed Tesla as the leading EV seller in Turkey, supported by tax incentives and zero-interest loans from state banks. Togg plans to boost production from 40,000 cars in 2025 to 60,000 in 2026, according to board chair Fuat Tosyalı.
The tax benefits have also attracted foreign manufacturers to the Turkish market. Tesla adjusted motor power specifications to benefit from favorable tax conditions, while China’s BYD plans to construct a $1bn factory in Turkey.
Electrification of vehicle fleets is crucial for reducing pollution and decarbonizing the transport sector. A report by InstitutDE, a Turkish thinktank, suggests that Turkey’s car fleet could quadruple by 2053, significantly increasing oil import demands. The shift to electric vehicles could mitigate risks associated with external shocks and price volatility.
However, the current success in BEV sales might not indicate a long-term move away from fossil fuels. Economist Baki Kaya, co-author of the InstitutDE report, cautions that the tax incentives are fragile and subject to change, expressing skepticism about the sustainability of this trend.
Research by Ember reveals that the overall tax burden on electric vehicles remains substantial, with taxes reaching up to 86% in higher brackets. Alparslan believes that maintaining affordable prices through tax policies could further enhance the momentum of electric vehicle adoption in Turkey.
Original Story at www.theguardian.com