Increase Car Production In Europe, Turkish Government Reportedly Talks To BYD And Chery

JAKARTA - Turkey welcomes manufacturers from China to invest. This is evidenced by the country's authorities in conducting a negotiation process with two companies from the bamboo curtain country, namely BYD and Chery, in order to increase car sales in Europe.

Turkish Industry and Technology Minister Fatih Kacir said that his party wanted to resolve the conversation as quickly as possible so that the investment of the two companies was realized immediately.

"We want to finish the conversation as soon as possible. We have taken a long journey with the two," said Kacir, quoted from Bloomberg, Automotive News, Saturday, May 18.

In addition to approaching BYD and Chery, the local government also held talks with SAIC Motor, the parent company owned by Morris Garage (MG) and Great Wall Motor (GWM). Unfortunately, a number of these companies have not yet responded to the news.

This move can provide easier access for Chinese car manufacturers to the European Union, where Turkey has a Customs Union Agreement. The country is also one of the largest electric vehicle markets by contributing 7.5 percent of total car sales in 2023.

According to national energy market regulators, they estimate the number of electric vehicles in Turkey could increase to 180,000 units by 2025.

Some time ago, BYD Europe Managing Director Michael Shu said he saw an opportunity for a second factory to be established on the blue continent by 2025, following the construction of his first facility in Hungary.