Türkiye has pressed for full, unconditional participation in the EU’s Made in EU policy, with Trade Minister Omer Bolat raising the issue during meetings with leading European automotive industry figures in Brussels on Thursday.
In a post on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal, Bolat said he held talks with Sigrid de Vries, director general of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), focusing on the policy and its possible impact on the Türkiye-EU automotive ecosystem.
He also took part in a roundtable discussion with representatives of the association’s member companies.
Turkish officials told participants that the long-standing investments of European carmakers in Türkiye demonstrate the close industrial ties forged under the Türkiye-EU Customs Union, as well as a partnership built on mutual confidence.
According to Bolat, automotive industry representatives shared the view that Türkiye should be included fully and without conditions in the Made in EU framework.
“We were pleased to see consensus among automotive sector representatives on Türkiye’s full and unconditional inclusion in the ‘Made in EU’ policy,” he said.
Bolat said Türkiye, backed by its private sector, would maintain efforts to reinforce and expand its automotive industry, which he called a key pillar of the country’s commercial integration with the EU.
The automotive sector retained its position as Türkiye’s biggest export industry in 2025, as foreign sales climbed 11.6% to a record $41.5 billion, according to the Automotive Industry Exporters’ Association.
Shipments to EU countries reached $30.11 billion, representing 72.5% of total sector exports and highlighting the industry’s deep connection to the European market.
Türkiye manufactured nearly 1.42 million motor vehicles in 2025, including roughly 872,500 passenger cars, data from the Automotive Manufacturers Association showed.
Passenger car exports reached nearly 599,700 units over the year.
Mucahithan Avcioglu Friday July 17, 2026
