Many countries have requested deals to sell Turkey’s first locally-produced car, introduced last December, Turkish industry and technology minister said on Thursday.
'Currently, at least 10 countries have contacted me about the dealership,' Mustafa Varank told reporters in parliament in the capital Ankara, adding that the offers mostly came from the Gulf countries, Central Asian countries and Germany.
He underlined there were also lots of offers, including car purchase, production participation of certain elements and contribution to the production process.
'There is a really big interest. We should not let down our citizens. We are carrying out our works to give the best response to this interest,' he said.
The minister also said that Turkey has not started the pre-order process yet on the 'locomotive' project that is destined to transform the automotive industry in the country.
Varank said that the Turkish-made car will be introduced with a 'competitive price in its class', adding that the efforts to find the most suitable name for the car continue.
'Turkey's [domestic] car is a project embraced by our citizens,' he said.
In June 2018, five industrial giants: the Anadolu Group, BMC, Kok Group, Turkcell and Zorlu Holding as well as an umbrella organization, the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, joined hands to create Turkey’s Automobile Joint Venture Group (TOGG).
TOGG will produce five different models -- SUV, sedan, c-hatchback, b-SUV and b-MPV -- until 2030 and own their intellectual and industrial property rights.
The factory's cost is expected to reach 22 billion Turkish liras ($3.7 billion). It will employ more than 4,300 staff, including 300 qualified personnel.
TOGG's electric vehicle platform, designed completely by TOGG engineers for all five models, will be original and patented.
The domestically-produced car will also be supported by the government with tax discounts and incentives.
Writing by Jeyhun Aliyev
Reporting by Sinan Uslu and Ali Kemal Akan
Anadolu Agency
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