According to figures presented in the Automotive Industrialists’ Association’s (OSD) monthly report for September 2020, total automotive production was 142,129 units in September 2020, 4.3% higher than the figure for the same month of the previous year. Of this total, car production was 90,447 units in September 2020, 0.1% higher than the figure for the same month of the previous year.
As a result of the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, car and commercial vehicle production in Turkey fell by 21.8% in March 2020, 91.3% in April 2020, and 53.7% in May 2020 compared with the respective months of the previous year. With the restarting of production facilities from mid-May, production recovered with lower falls of 5.4% in June 2020 and 11.8% in July 2020. This recovery was largely propelled though by the surge in domestic sales following the generous loan packages offered by the state banks as from the June 1st, rather than exports which fell by 26.9% in June, 33.3% in July 2020, and 21.5% in August 2020. Despite the cheap loans being discontinued in August, it would appear that the 44.3% increase in production in August, compared with the same month of the previous year, reflects a continued recovery in domestic sales that month. However, it should be noted that production in August 2020 of 75,341 units was 36.2% lower than the production figure of 118,030 units for the previous month of July 2020. Production in September of 142,129 units, an increase of 4.3% on the figure for the same month of the previous year, was an important improvement in terms of total units. Though domestic sales remained strong in September with an increase of 116.8% compared with the same month of the previous year, exports fell by 13.3%. The expected continuation of weak exports in the coming months due to the contraction of European economies especially together with falling domestic demand as a result of more costly loan facilities, increasing coronavirus pandemic cases in Turkey, and the continuation of the ongoing economic recession will continue to have a debilitating effect on production in October and the months to follow.
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 September 2020, figures for production, sales, imports and exports are as follows :
** Total production increased by 4.3% in September 2020 to 142,129 units compared with the same month of the previous year. Of this total, production of cars increased by 0.1% to 90,447 units.
** Total automotive sales increased by 116.8% in September 2020 to 93,353 units compared with the same month of the previous year.
** Total automotive imports increased by 95.9% in September 2020 to 45,526 units compared with the same month of the previous year
** Total automotive exports decreased by 13.3% in September 2020 to 92,832 units compared with the same month of the previous year.
** In USD terms, total automotive exports decreased by 0.4% to USD 2,645.8 million, with car exports decreasing by 10.4% to USD 865.6 million in September 2020.
In OSD’s report for the first nine months of 2020, figures for production, sales, imports and exports are as follows :
** Total production decreased by 19.2% in the first nine months of 2020 to 854,227 units compared with the same period of the previous year. Of this total, production of cars decreased by 17.8% to 575,761 units.
** Total automotive sales increased by 75.7% in the first nine months of 2020 to 508,239 units compared with the same period of the previous year.
** Total automotive imports increased by 74.7% in the first nine months of 2020 to 275,605 units compared with the same period of the previous year.
** Total automotive exports decreased by 32.6% in the first nine months of 2020 to 616,120 units compared with the same period of the previous year.
** In USD terms, total automotive exports decreased by 24.3% to USD 17,415.1 million, and car exports decreased by 25.1% to USD 6,273.2 million in the first nine months of 2020 compared with the same period of the previous year.