tesla sales — Tesla’s auto sales soared in Turkey in August, propelling the brand to the No. 2 spot in the market, surpassing traditional European and Japanese competitors.
- tesla sales — Tesla's auto sales soared in Turkey in August, propelling the brand to the No. 2 spot in the market, surpassing traditional European and Japanese competitors.
- According to data from the Automotive Distributors Association (ODMD), Tesla now only trails Renault in Turkish sales, outpacing local favourites such as Fiat, Volkswagen, Toyota, and Hyundai.
In a remarkable performance, the electric vehicle (EV) maker sold 8,730 Model Y units last month, marking an impressive 86 per cent increase from July. This surge comes at a time when some European markets are experiencing a sales downturn due to intense competition from China’s BYD and challenges surrounding CEO Elon Musk.
According to data from the Automotive Distributors Association (ODMD), Tesla now only trails Renault in Turkish sales, outpacing local favourites such as Fiat, Volkswagen, Toyota, and Hyundai.
In August, Tesla accounted for a staggering 50 per cent of all electric vehicles sold in Turkey, as reported by industry consultancy EBS Danismanlik. BYD followed with 1,639 units sold, while the domestic electric-only brand TOGG managed to sell 1,249 units.
Analysts suggest that the substantial increase in Tesla’s sales can be attributed to erratic allocation patterns from the company’s German manufacturing plant. Earlier in the year, sales were sluggish, with only about 100 units sold in March and April. However, this figure jumped to over 4,000 units in June and July, resulting in Tesla capturing approximately a third of the EV market during that period.
Turkish consumers are increasingly drawn to electric vehicles, motivated by lower tax rates and the appeal of hedging against the declining value of the Turkish lira. The EV market share has risen dramatically, maintaining around 20 per cent over the past three months, compared to just 8 per cent last year.
The base Model Y, currently the only Tesla model available in Turkey, benefits from being taxed at the lowest bracket within the country’s complex vehicle tax system. Even after a tax hike in late July, it remains significantly cheaper than conventional combustion engine vehicles.
Turkey’s vehicle tax system imposes a special consumption tax and value-added tax, with combined rates ranging from 50 per cent to a staggering 284 per cent. As the Turkish lira has lost more than 80 per cent of its value in recent years, many buyers view their Tesla purchases, priced in euros, as a strategic financial move.
Throughout the January to August period, Tesla’s sales skyrocketed more than fourfold compared to the same timeframe last year, reaching approximately 26,000 units. TOGG, while trailing Tesla, still saw a 42 per cent increase in sales year on year.
Notably, the entire Turkish light vehicle market, encompassing both cars and commercial vans, experienced a 5 per cent growth, resulting in a cumulative total of 1.3 million units sold over the past 12 months—setting a historical high.
