Turkey's Electric Vehicle Revolution Gains Momentum
When Berke Astarcıoğlu purchased his BMW i3 back in 2016, he joined an exclusive club of just 44 battery electric vehicle owners in a nation of 80 million people. Fast forward to today, and the landscape has transformed dramatically. By 2023, when Astarcıoğlu upgraded to a Tesla, electric vehicles had already captured 7% of Turkey's new car market. Now, just two years later, the country has achieved a remarkable milestone in automotive evolution.
Market Transformation and European Comparisons
Registration data released this week reveals that battery electric vehicles accounted for 16.7% of new car sales in Turkey during 2025, placing the nation just behind the European Union's average of 17.4%. This positions Turkey as Europe's fourth largest electric vehicle market, trailing only Germany, the United Kingdom, and France in overall volume.
"A premium product is something that brings you joy precisely because not everyone can access it," reflects Astarcıoğlu, an Istanbul-based mechatronic engineer who developed a charging station location app. "Now my Tesla has become quite ordinary here."
While adoption rates remain below those seen in the Netherlands or Nordic countries, where electric vehicles represent 35% to 96% of new car sales, Turkey has surged ahead of nearly every southern and eastern European nation. This rapid transition forms part of a broader global pattern where emerging economies from Uruguay to Vietnam are abandoning fossil fuel vehicles at unexpectedly swift rates.
Economic Drivers Behind the Surge
Analysts point to Turkey's distinctive tax structure as the primary catalyst for this electric vehicle boom. The country's special consumption tax has created a situation where electric cars are priced only marginally higher than comparable petrol models. Remarkably, sales maintained their momentum even after the government increased taxes on electric vehicles in August.
"In practical terms, Turkish consumers aren't choosing electric vehicles primarily for environmental reasons," explains Ufuk Alparslan, an analyst at climate thinktank Ember. "The fundamental motivation is economic - electric cars simply cost less to operate."
The transition to electric mobility represents a crucial step toward decarbonising transportation and reducing pollution, yet many regions have encountered significant obstacles. Within the European Union, where transport emissions have increased by 17% since 1990, efforts to phase out combustion engines have faced substantial resistance from established automotive interests.
Domestic Manufacturing and Market Normalisation
Although Turkey lacks a comprehensive national electric vehicle strategy, the government has actively promoted domestic manufacturer Togg, which surpassed Tesla as the country's leading electric vehicle seller in 2024. During a recent interview with Bloomberg HT, Togg's board chair Fuat Tosyalı revealed ambitious expansion plans, targeting production increases from 40,000 vehicles in 2025 to 60,000 in 2026.
"Togg's market entry, supported by tax advantages and zero-interest credit from state banks, has played a pivotal role in normalising electric vehicle adoption," notes Berkan Bayram, founder of the Turkish Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Association. "The brand has genuinely captured the affection of Turkish buyers."
International manufacturers facing import duties have also benefited from Turkey's Togg-friendly tax framework. Companies including Tesla have adjusted motor specifications to qualify for favourable tax brackets, while Chinese manufacturer BYD competes aggressively for market share with plans for a $1 billion Turkish production facility.
Geopolitical Implications and Future Challenges
Beyond environmental considerations, the shift toward electric mobility offers significant geopolitical advantages for nations without domestic oil production. According to research from InstitutDE, a Turkish diplomatic thinktank based in Brussels, Turkey's vehicle fleet could quadruple by 2053, dramatically increasing demand for imported oil under current trends.
The study indicates that while oil imports will rise across all scenarios, insufficient electrification would leave Turkey increasingly vulnerable to external shocks, price volatility, and geopolitical uncertainties. However, analysts caution that recent sales increases may not signal a permanent transition away from fossil fuel vehicles.
"The existing tax incentives remain quite fragile and subject to change," warns Baki Kaya, an economist and former diplomat who co-authored the InstitutDE report. "This isn't the outcome of strategic planning, and I maintain a cautious outlook regarding its sustainability."
Further analysis from Ember reveals that electric vehicles still face substantial tax burdens in Turkey, with total taxation reaching 50% for vehicles in the lowest bracket and climbing to 86% for higher categories. Without policy adjustments, inflation and exchange rate fluctuations could soon reduce the availability of affordable electric options.
"Although electric vehicles are becoming increasingly common in Turkey, significant untapped potential remains for reducing energy imports through renewable energy and electric mobility," concludes Alparslan. "Tax policies that maintain affordable electric vehicle pricing could substantially accelerate this positive momentum."
