Turkish automotive industry continues its record streak in exports

In the global economy, concerns over the mutual tariffs between the US and China are giving way to optimism arising from the trade talks between the parties.

US President Donald Trump's easing of the 25% tariff on all cars to be brought into the country provides some relief in the automotive sector and contributes to Türkiye's positive differentiation in this area.

According to data from the Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TIM), Türkiye's exports increased by 3.9% y/y in the January-April period of 2025, reaching USD 86 billion 246 million 733 thousand. In April, exports increased by 8.5% to USD 20.9 billion.

The automotive sector realized the highest January-April period exports of all time with USD 12 billion 635 million 489 thousand in 4 months of the year.

During the mentioned period, the exports of the automotive sector increased by 6.5% compared to the same period of the previous year, while the share of the sector in total exports was calculated as 14.7%.

Most exports to Germany

The highest exports in automotive exports were made to Germany with USD 2 billion, followed by France with USD 1.5 billion, the United Kingdom with USD 1.3 billion, Spain with USD 1 billion 89 million and Italy with USD 1 billion 23 million.

Germany was at the top in the increase in exports in terms of value. In this period, the automotive sector's exports to the country increased by USD 390.1 million. This country was followed by Spain with USD 357.3 million, Slovenia with USD 220.8 million, Romania with USD 129.9 million and France with USD 83.6 million.

The automotive sector exported USD 685.6 million to Slovenia and USD 461.4 million to Romania.

Most exports from Kocaeli
When analyzed on a provincial basis, the highest exports in the automotive sector during the period in question were realized from Kocaeli with USD 3.9 billion.

During the same period, automotive exports amounted to USD 2 billion 750 million from İstanbul, USD 2 billion 716 million from Bursa, USD 1.3 billion from Sakarya and USD 491.2 million from Ankara.

The sector continued to break records in the last 3 years as of January-April

On the other hand, Türkiye has risen to an important position worldwide in both the completed automotive and supply industries in recent years.

Especially during the pandemic period, when global demand was curtailed, and in the years that followed, the automotive industry shifted up a gear. While the exports of the automotive industry reached a record level in the January-April period of the year, the steady rise in the same periods of previous years attracted attention.

Accordingly, automotive exports amounted to USD 11.9 billion in 2024, USD 11.3 billion in 2023 and USD 10 billion 187 million in 2022.

Automotive exports were recorded as USD 10 billion 153 million and USD 7.6 billion in 2021 and 2020, respectively, when the negative effects of the pandemic on the global economy were felt.

The sector's exports were USD 10.4 billion in 2019. Thus, the exports of the sector broke a record in the last 3 consecutive years as of January-April periods.

According to TIM data, the countries where the automotive industry realized the highest exports (thousand dollars) in the January-April period of last year and 2025 are as follows: