Turkey’s Automotive Market Kicks Off 2026 with Strong Momentum

According to data released by the Türkiye’s Automotive Distributors and Mobility Association (ODMD), Turkey’s automobile and light commercial vehicle market delivered a powerful start to 2026, signaling continued resilience in domestic demand. Total vehicle sales in January climbed 9.77% year-on-year to reach 75,362 units, underlining a dynamic opening to the new year.

Passenger car sales rose 9.1% compared to the same period last year, totaling 61,055 units. Meanwhile, the light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment outperformed, expanding 12.6% to 14,307 units. The data confirms that both private consumer demand and commercial mobility needs remain robust despite shifting economic conditions.

When benchmarked against the 10-year January averages, the scale of growth becomes even more striking. Passenger car sales exceeded the decade-long January average by 84.8%, while light commercial vehicles surpassed their historical average by 49.7%. Overall market performance stood 77% above the 10-year January norm, clearly demonstrating that Turkey’s automotive sector is operating well above historical seasonal trends.

Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Accelerate Market Transformation

The most notable structural shift in January 2026 was the rapid expansion of electrified vehicles. Although gasoline-powered cars maintained leadership with 26,671 units and a 43.7% market share, their dominance continued to erode. Gasoline’s share declined by 5.2 percentage points year-on-year, reflecting changing consumer preferences.

Diesel vehicles fell to a modest 6.9% market share with 4,203 units sold, while LPG models remained marginal within the overall mix. In contrast, hybrid vehicles strengthened their foothold, reaching 18,774 units and capturing 30.7% of the passenger car market.

However, the standout development came from fully electric vehicles. EV sales jumped 81.6% year-on-year, surging from 6,225 units to 11,304 units. Market share climbed sharply from 11.1% to 18.5%, driven particularly by strong demand for models below 160 kW. This rapid growth underscores Turkey’s accelerating transition toward electric mobility.

Supporting infrastructure, while expanding, is struggling to keep pace. The number of electric vehicles on Turkish roads nearly doubled within a year, rising from 198,000 to 389,000 units. Charging stations increased from 26,000 to 39,000 during the same period. Although infrastructure growth is significant, vehicle adoption is advancing at a faster rate, signaling sustained consumer confidence in electric mobility.

SUV Dominance and Automatic Transmission Preference

Segment analysis reveals that tax-advantaged A, B, and C segments accounted for 83.7% of total passenger car sales. Among them, the C segment dominated with 32,428 units sold, securing a commanding 53.1% share of the passenger car market.

Body type preferences also reflect global trends. SUVs led decisively with 36,786 units sold and a 60.3% share, far outpacing sedans at 21.2% and hatchbacks at 18.3%. The shift toward SUVs continues to reshape product strategies among automakers operating in Turkey.

Another critical consumer behavior indicator is transmission preference. Nearly 97% of passenger cars sold in January — totaling 59,455 units — were equipped with automatic transmissions. This overwhelming preference suggests that manual gearboxes are rapidly becoming a niche option in the Turkish market.

Domestic vs Imported Vehicles: Growth Across the Board

Both domestic and imported vehicle sales increased in January 2026. Domestic vehicle sales rose 19% year-on-year to 25,859 units. Imported vehicles also expanded, albeit at a slower 5.5% growth rate, reaching 49,503 units.

Despite the stronger relative growth in domestic production, imported vehicles continue to dominate total market composition. Looking at full-year 2025 figures, domestic vehicle sales reached 386,536 units, while imported vehicles totaled 981,864 units, accounting for the majority of the overall market volume.

Distributor Performance: Diverging Trends Among Major Players

While the overall market expanded by nearly 10%, performance among major automotive distributors varied significantly.

Tofaş (TOASO) recorded 16,265 units in January. Despite solid absolute sales, its market share declined from 24% to 21.6%. Within its portfolio, Fiat showed modest growth, Jeep posted notable gains, and Maserati experienced a sharp contraction.

Ford Otosan (FROTO) saw sales decline 14% year on year to 5,339 units, with its market share falling from 9% to 7.1%.

On the other hand, Doğuş Otomotiv (DOAS) increased sales by 3.4%, reaching 9,779 units. Although its market share slightly softened, the group delivered mixed brand-level performance. Volkswagen achieved double-digit growth, while Skoda, Seat, and Cupra recorded declines.

Market analysts note that structural developments, including the impact of the Stellantis merger and portfolio positioning, could create a more favorable outlook for certain distributors, particularly TOASO.