In the first quarter of the year, total automotive production declined by 7% year-on-year to 321,856 units, while passenger car production fell by 18% to 181,364 units. Including tractor production, total output reached 327,016 units.
During the same period, production in the commercial vehicle segment increased. Total commercial vehicle production rose by 14% compared to the same period last year, with heavy commercial vehicle production up 20% and light commercial vehicle production increasing by 13%.
The automotive industry’s capacity utilization rate stood at 60% in the first quarter. By vehicle group, capacity utilization was 62% for light vehicles, 57% for trucks, 69% for buses-midibuses, and 28% for tractors.
On the export side, a decline was recorded. Total automotive exports fell by 15% year-on-year in January–March to 215,323 units. During this period, passenger car exports dropped by 29%, while commercial vehicle exports increased by 5%. Tractor exports rose by 12% to 2,835 units.
According to data from the Türkiye İhracatçılar Meclisi (TİM), the automotive industry maintained its position as the leading export sector in the first quarter of 2026 with an 18% share of total sectoral exports. Total automotive exports increased by 3% year-on-year to $9.9 billion.
According to the Uludağ Otomotiv Endüstrisi İhracatçıları Birliği (OİB), main industry exports rose by 3% and supplier industry exports increased by 4% during the same period.
The domestic market also contracted. Total automotive market volume declined by 4% year-on-year in January–March to 274,346 units, while the passenger car market fell by 6% to 210,688 units.
Different trends were observed in the commercial vehicle market. Total commercial vehicle sales increased by 3%, light commercial vehicle sales rose by 4%, while heavy commercial vehicle sales declined by 6%.
In the period in question, the share of domestically produced vehicles in passenger car sales stood at 36%, while the share in the light commercial vehicle market was recorded at 23%.
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