Ankara: Trkiye's automotive market has witnessed a significant shift, with electric and hybrid vehicles making up 51.7% of the total car sales from January to July, totaling 259,970 units. According to Anadolu Agency, this marks a notable transformation in consumer preferences within the Turkish auto industry, as the market gravitates towards more sustainable vehicle options.

Passenger car sales in Trkiye experienced a 12.1% year-on-year decrease, amounting to 502,712 units over the same period. Meanwhile, the sales of light commercial vehicles saw a 5.1% decline, with 136,253 units sold. Gasoline-powered cars saw a drop of 19.8%, with 208,046 units sold during this period, while hybrid vehicles recorded a modest 3.5% increase, reaching 162,924 units.

Diesel vehicles faced a notable 32% decline in sales, down to 30,790 units, attributed primarily to the global reduction in diesel vehicle production. Conversely, sales of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-powered cars experienced a slight uptick of 4.1%, totaling 3,906 units. The electric car market also saw substantial growth, with fully electric car sales reaching 93,403 units in the first seven months.

Electric vehicles (EVs), including extended-range models, captured 18.7% of the Turkish passenger car market, increasing from an 18.1% market share in the previous year. Hybrid vehicles also saw an upward trend, with their market share rising from 28% to 33%. In contrast, the share of gasoline-powered cars dropped to 41.4% from 45.3%, and diesel cars fell to 6.1% from 7.9%. LPG-powered cars maintained a small but consistent presence, with their share rising slightly from 0.7% to 0.8%.

The month of July saw the sale of 12,715 EVs in the Turkish passenger car market, marking a 27.1% decrease compared to the previous year. Nevertheless, electric cars accounted for 20.4% of the market in July. Additionally, hybrid vehicles continued to perform strongly, with 20,120 units sold, capturing a 32.2% market share for the month.