Turkey Becomes EU's Third-Largest Vehicle Export Market in 2025
The automotive trade between the European Union (EU) and Turkey demonstrated its competitive strength in 2025. Exports of new vehicles from the EU to Turkey increased by 24.8% year-on-year to 18.8 billion euros, with Turkey accounting for 11.1% of the EU's total new vehicle exports, securing its position as the third-largest market. This performance was bolstered by growing demand in electric vehicles and commercial vehicle segments. In 2025, 124,055 electric vehicles were exported from the EU to Turkey, representing 17.4% of total automotive exports. Conversely, Turkey's exports to the EU reached 18.2 billion euros, reflecting an 18.5% annual growth. In the commercial vehicle and bus segment, Turkey exported 230,833 units worth 8.2 billion euros to EU countries. According to ACEA data, 49% of EU-produced vehicles were sold in Turkey, while locally manufactured vehicles accounted for 30% of the market, outpacing Chinese-origin vehicles at 8%.
Turkey's Rise in EU Vehicle Exports
Electric Vehicles and Energy Transition
Electric vehicle exports from the EU to Turkey accounted for 17.4% of total automotive exports, while Turkey exported 7,517 electric vehicles (176 million euros) to the EU. These figures highlight Turkey's progress in transitioning to electric technologies and its competitiveness in meeting EU standards, though gaps remain.
Turkey's Leadership in Commercial Vehicle Exports
In 2025, 98,481 commercial vehicles and buses were exported from the EU to Turkey (3.2 billion euros), while Turkey exported 230,833 units (8.2 billion euros) to EU markets. Turkey's stronger export performance in this segment underscores its competitive edge in public transportation solutions.
Zeynep Kaya: These figures underscore Turkey's dual focus on domestic market investments and outbound export strategies within its automotive sector. The relatively modest share of electric vehicle exports suggests that local manufacturers are still adapting to EU compliance standards. However, Turkey's dominance in commercial vehicle exports signals a clear competitive advantage in mass transit solutions.