The Automotive Industry Association (OSD) shared the eight-month production and export data covering the January-August period of 2026 with the public. According to the information revealing the current situation in the sector, Turkey’s total automotive production decreased by 7 percent compared to the same period of last year, reaching 841,583 units.

While the contraction in car production was particularly noticeable during this period, a different trend was observed in the commercial vehicle segment. The data released by OSD details how the production capacity and foreign trade volume in the automotive industry ecosystem performed in the first eight months of the year.

A 19 Percent Decline Observed in Passenger Car Production

When the data for the first eight months of 2026 is examined, the loss of momentum in passenger car production stands out. Passenger car production, which experienced a 19% decrease compared to the same period last year, remained at 458,169 units. When tractor production is also taken into account, the total production volume of the sector reached 854,860 units. This decrease in passenger cars appears to be directly affected by domestic market dynamics and changes in global supply processes.

Production Capacity Increased in the Commercial Vehicle Group

Unlike passenger cars, a positive picture is observed in the commercial vehicle segment in terms of production. In the first eight months of the year, total production in the commercial vehicle group increased by 12%. Looking at the sub-breakdowns of this increase, it is seen that the light commercial vehicle group also grew by 12%.

Heavy commercial vehicle production increased by 7%, supporting the maintenance of production diversity in the sector. However, despite this production increase, domestic sales figures did not reflect a similar picture.

Domestic Sales Figures Show a Downward Trend

According to data from the Automotive Industry Association, the contraction in domestic demand has also affected the commercial vehicle segment. Compared to the first eight months of 2025, the total commercial vehicle market declined by 5 percent.

Within this overall decline, the light commercial vehicle market contracted by 4 percent, and the heavy commercial vehicle market by 7 percent. The fact that the increase in production is balanced by this contraction in the domestic market once again emphasizes the value of the sector’s export-oriented strategies.

Significant Decline in Export Figures

The sector’s foreign trade performance fell short of expectations in the first eight months of the year, showing a downward trend. Total automotive exports decreased by 12 percent in terms of units compared to the same period of the previous year, falling to 597,594 units.

The decline in car exports, in particular, reached a significant level of 28 percent, ending at 279,341 units. Whether the sector can close this export gap in the remaining period of 2026 will depend on global economic developments in the coming months.

How do you evaluate this production and export data in the automotive sector? Do you think a recovery process can be experienced in the sector in the coming months? You can share your thoughts with us in the comments section.