ANKARA
Turkey’s motor vehicle production increased 31 percent in the first three months of the year from the previous year, Automotive Manufacturers' Association said in a statement on Thursday.
A sharp increase in automotive exports accounted for the improvement, the statement said.
Turkish automotive exports surged 23 percent during the same period, the Automotive Manufacturers' Association said in a statement on Thursday.
Turkey manufactured 334,705 motor vehicles, including 198,000 passenger cars during the period, an increase of 79,215 cars from 2014, according to the association.
Motor vehicle exports rose 23 percent this year to 249,838 in the first three months of 2015, including 16 percent growth in passenger car exports to 159,000, and a 37 percent increase in commercial vehicle exports to 91,000.
But vehicle exports declined in value by 6 percent from January to March 2015 due to the strength of the dollar, and a drop in exports to Russia and Ukraine, the statement said.
Turkey manufactured one out of every 77 motor vehicles in the world in 2014, according to figures released this week by the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers. Turkey manufactured 1,170,445 cars, an increase of 45,000 cars from 2013.
In terms of commercial vehicle production, Turkey is the ninth biggest producer in the world and the second-largest manufacturer in Europe, while it is the number one bus producer in Europe, according to association statistics.
Over 250 companies work in the sector in Turkey, according to the Economy Ministry.
