Turkey toughens electric vehicle import rules to slam brakes on Chinese brands

Companies importing EVs to Turkey must have at least 140 authorised service stations spread evenly across the country and open a call centre for each brand

China sold US$184 million worth of EVs to Turkey in the first 10 months of this year

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Electric cars are becoming increasingly popular in Turkey, thanks to the relative affordability of Chinese brands. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 3:30pm, 9 Dec 2023

Turkey is cracking down on Chinese electric vehicle imports, the latest country to do so after the European Union launched its own probe into the Asian country’s EV subsidies.

Companies importing EVs to Turkey must have at least 140 authorised service stations spread evenly across the country and open a call centre for each brand, according to a Trade Ministry decree published last month.

The onerous requirement is widely seen as targeting Chinese vehicles. Imports from the EU and countries that have free-trade agreements with Turkey are exempt from the decree. Importers have only until the end of the month to comply, a next-to-impossible task for many.

The sudden shift marks a setback for companies involved in the sale of Chinese cars in Turkey, Europe’s sixth-biggest auto market. They are seeking modifications or at least a delay so the tighter regulations will not be so disruptive.

“These rules are so tough, not a single brand is in compliance as of today,” said Erol Sahin, chief executive officer of automotive consultancy EBS.

The biggest issue stems from the requirement that importers establish service stations themselves, which would complicate deals with authorised third-party services, Sahin said.