Turkish automotive market narrows in first half of year

By Handan Gynes

ISTANBUL

The Turkish overall auto sales market, including light trucks, slipped 8.58 percent in the first half of the year compared the same period in 2016, the Automotive Manufacturers Association (OSD) said on Tuesday.

Total sales stood at 401,158 in the first half of 2017, down from 438,817 in 2016, the group said in a statement.

The number of automobiles sold reached 305,924 from January to June, down 10 percent compared to the same period last year, it said.

The association expects that at the end of 2017 Turkey’s overall auto sales market will hover between 875,000 and 925,000.