The Automotive Distributors Association (ODD) disclosed that sales of cars and light commercial vehicles in Turkey were 50,008 units in March 2020, 1.6% higher than the figure for the same month of the previous year. Sales of cars increased 3.3% to 39,887 units, whereas sales of light commercial vehicles decreased 4.5% to 10,121 units in March 2020 compared with the same month of the previous year. The introduction of cheaper automotive loan packages as of October 1st, 2019 from Turkish state banks Ziraat Bank, Halkbank and Vakıfbank, and similar packages offered since by Turkish private banks had helped boost automotive sales over the last six months. However, the coronavirus pandemic, which has started to make itself felt in Turkey in March, has had a significant adverse affect on automotive sales. With much of the working population being sent home to isolate, there are fears of how people will survive without any guaranteed income to see them through this difficult period. Many companies have shut down their operations and investment in commercial vehicles is gradually evaporating as business outlook deteriorates. Automotive sales in April, as Turkey moves towards total shutdown, are likely to be very minimal.
In the first quarter of 2020, sales of cars and light commercial vehicles in Turkey were 124,403 units, 40.6% higher than the figure for the same period of the previous year. Sales of cars increased 44.8% to 99,930 units, and sales of light commercial vehicles increased 26% to 24,773 units.
In the first quarter of 2020, sales of diesel automobiles were 44.9% and sales of automatic gearbox automobiles were up to 71.5%. Of commercial vehicle sales, 18,629 (75.2%) vans, 2,952 (11.9%) light trucks, 1,668 (6.7%) minibuses, and 1,524 (6.2%) pick-up trucks were sold.
In the year 2019, sales of cars and light commercial vehicles in Turkey were 479,060 units, 22.9% lower than the figure for the previous year. Sales of cars decreased 20.4% to 387,256 units, and sales of light commercial vehicles decreased 31.8% to 91,804 units. Sales in 2019 of diesel automobiles were 52% and sales of automatic gearbox automobiles were 66.5%. Of commercial vehicle sales, 66,704 (72.7%) vans, 10,838 (11.8%) light trucks, 7,203 (7.8%) minibuses, and 7,059 (7.7%) pick-up trucks were sold.
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