According to figures presented in the Automotive Industrialists’ Association’s (OSD) monthly report for March 2020, total automotive production was 103,350 units in March 2020, 21.8% lower than the figure for the same month of the previous year. Of this total, car production was 72,093 units in March 2020, 17.5% lower than the figure for the same month of the previous year.
Car and commercial vehicle production in Turkey in March 2020 fell sharply as a result of the spread of the coronavirus pandemic to Europe in particular. Orders have fallen drastically as more and more countries introduce regulations to isolate their populations in their homes. The global economy has largely come to a halt as mostly only essential products such as food are now in demand for households in lockdown. In the latter half of March most automotive manufacturers in Turkey have temporarily halted production. This pandemic has come at a very unfortunate time for the Turkish automotive industry, just when domestic demand had begun to revive following a severe disruption to the industry as a result of Turkey’s ongoing economic recession. Despite the continuing economic difficulties faced by Turkey, the lower interest rates introduced by the Turkish government had helped to boost domestic sales in recent months.
The outlook for April 2020 is grim. Sales of cars in Turkey in March 2020, despite an increase of over 90% in the previous two months, have already fallen to an increase of only 3.3% on the figure for the same month of the previous year. With most if not all automotive manufacturing factories closing down, production results in April will be negligible.
Total automotive production in the year 2019 was 1,461,244 units, down 5.7% from the figure of 1,550,260 units for the previous year.
Total car production in the year 2019 was 982,642 units, down 4.3% from the figure of 1,026,481 units for the previous year.
Total automotive production was 1,550,260 units in 2018, 1,695,731 units in 2017, 1,485,927 units in 2016, and 1,358,796 units in 2015.
Total car production was 1,026,481 units in 2018, 1,142,906 units in 2017, 950,888 units in 2016, and 791,027 units in 2015.
2017 was a record year for automotive production in Turkey, but production fell 8.6% in 2018, and with the 5.7% fall in the year 2019, automotive production in 2019 has fallen back below its 2016 level.
In OSD’s report for March 2020, figures for production, sales, imports and exports are as follows :
** Total production decreased by 21.8% in March 2020 to 103,350 units compared with the same month of the previous year. Of this total, production of cars decreased by 17.5% to 72,093 units.
** Total automotive sales increased by 1.8% in March 2020 to 51,588 units compared with the same month of the previous year.
** Total automotive imports increased by 12.9% in March 2020 to 30,901 units compared with the same month of the previous year
** Total automotive exports decreased by 30.3% in March 2020 to 83,771 units compared with the same month of the previous year.
** In USD terms, total automotive exports decreased by 28.2% to USD 2,106.9 million, with car exports decreasing by 34.5% to USD 767.6 million in March 2020.
In OSD’s report for the first three months of 2020, figures for production, sales, imports and exports are as follows :
** Total production decreased by 5.6% in the first three months of 2020 to 341,136 units compared with the same period of the previous year. Of this total, production of cars decreased by 1.5% to 235,199 units.
** Total automotive sales increased by 41.3% in the first three months of 2020 to 128,674 units compared with the same period of the previous year.
** Total automotive imports increased by 48% in the first three months of 2020 to 74,574 units compared with the same period of the previous year.
** Total automotive exports decreased by 13.6% in the first three months of 2020 to 276,348 units compared with the same period of the previous year.
** In USD terms, total automotive exports decreased by 9.5% to USD 7,137.3 million, and car exports decreased by 1.9% to USD 2,880.7 million in the first three months of 2020 compared with the same period of the previous year.
Click here for full OSD monthly report for March 2020