Turkey welcomes Hyundai to become first foreign EV maker. In 2026, Hyundai will start manufacturing its recently unveiled Concept THREE in Turkey, becoming the first foreign automaker to produce battery-powered vehicles in the nation and the first EV manufacturer in Europe.
At this week’s IAA Mobility, Europe’s largest auto show, in Munich, Hyundai unveiled the Concept THREE, the company’s first tiny EV concept under the IONIQ sub-brand. As stated by Hyundai Türkiye general manager Murat Berkel, “This will be the first Hyundai electric car manufactured in Europe, and it will be produced in Türkiye,” AA said.
Hyundai will be the top foreign automaker and the second EV manufacturer in Turkey, behind domestic brand Togg. The Hyundai facility in the northwest city of Izmit, which presently manufactures the i10, i20, and Bayon models and has an annual production capacity of 245,000 vehicles, will house the Concept THREE.
According to Berkel, the business plans to introduce completely rebuilt i20 and Bayon models in 2027, along with their hybrid versions. Based on Hyundai’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), a versatile EV architecture that supports models from the A to E segment, the new vehicle is expected to be a game-changer for the Turkish auto sector, according to Berkel.
“Hyundai will be the first foreign manufacturer to bring this technology to Türkiye,” he stressed. Berkel noted that Hyundai’s investment aligns with a rapidly expanding EV market. Global EV sales surpassed 10.5 million units in the first eight months of 2025, capturing an 18% market share, while Europe sold more than 1.2 million units over the same period.
Turkey now has the fourth-largest electric car market in Europe, with EV sales rising from 1% of the market five years ago to 15% today. “Türkiye is experiencing exponential growth in electric vehicles, and by 2030, we expect market share to exceed 30%,” Berkel stated. In Turkey, there are currently over 200,000 electric cars, and by 2030, that number is expected to rise to one million.
Improving the charging network
In response to customer concerns, Berkel emphasized the nation’s expanding charging network, which has increased by more than 50% to over 30,000 locations in the last 12 months. “Turkey is in a strong position when compared to Europe in terms of the number of vehicles per charging station. “EVs can now be used for long-distance travel,” he stated. He added that it is anticipated that there would be close to 100,000 charging stations in order to reach the 20230 goal.
According to Berkel, the EV second-hand market is also maturing, which allays worries about depreciation. “The previous perception has vanished. People no longer worry about range anxiety or resale value,” he said, adding that EVs are proving to be cost-effective. Compared to combustion engines, a home-charged battery can power a 600-kilometer trip for roughly TL 450.
By 2030, Hyundai Motor Group wants to invest $90 billion worldwide and introduce 13 hybrid and 21 completely electric vehicles. According to Berkel, Türkiye will play a significant role in this plan. “We will expand in tandem with Hyundai’s global expansion in Turkey. We aim to sell 90,000 cars in Turkey by 2030, with a sizable portion coming from EVs,” he continued.
Source: Daily Sabah
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