Turkey Matches EU in Electric Car Sales at 17%

When Berke Astarcıoğlu bought an electric BMW in 2016, he was one of only 44 people in Turkey to make that choice. Today, his Tesla is just another car in Istanbul traffic.

Turkey has pulled off something remarkable. The country now sells electric vehicles at nearly the same rate as the entire European Union, with battery electric cars making up 16.7% of new sales compared to the EU's 17.4%.

The numbers tell an incredible story. In just two years, Turkey leapfrogged almost every country in southern and eastern Europe to become the continent's fourth largest electric vehicle market, trailing only Germany, the UK, and France.

The secret? Economics, not environmentalism. Turkey's tax system makes electric cars only slightly more expensive than gas-powered ones, turning what's usually a luxury choice into a practical decision for millions of families.

"Practically speaking, Turkish people don't buy electric vehicles because it's eco-friendly," said Ufuk Alparslan, an analyst at climate thinktank Ember. "The motivation is purely economical."

The shift got an extra boost from Togg, Turkey's homegrown electric carmaker. Launched with government support and zero-interest loans from state banks, Togg overtook Tesla as the country's top EV seller in 2024 and plans to double production by 2026.

Foreign automakers noticed. Tesla reduced motor power in their Turkish models to qualify for better tax rates. Chinese giant BYD is building a $1 billion factory in the country.

The Ripple Effect

The benefits reach far beyond cleaner air. Turkey doesn't produce its own oil, so every electric car on the road means less money sent overseas and less exposure to global oil price swings.

As Turkey's car fleet is expected to quadruple by 2053, running more vehicles on electricity could save the country from soaring oil import bills and the geopolitical risks that come with energy dependence.

The transformation shows what's possible when policy meets practicality. Turkey joins emerging markets from Uruguay to Vietnam proving that the clean car revolution doesn't have to wait for wealthy nations to lead the way.

Experts warn the tax incentives could change, but for now, Istanbul's streets tell a story of rapid, unexpected progress that other countries are watching closely.