According to the monthly statistics released by the Turkish Automotive Manufacturers' Association, in 2009 the Turkish automotive market expanded by 9.4% reaching 575,865 units due to the tax reduction in the March to October period of 2009 and the special offer campaigns conducted by automotive companies.
The expansion of the market resulted from the revival in demand for passenger cars, which accounted for 63% of the total market and for pick up trucks. In 2009, the market for passenger cars grew by 20.9% to 369,819 units while sales of pick up trucks increased by 27.3% both compared to 2008.
In the year in question, the lack of sufficient measures to limit the decline in demand caused demand for medium sized commercial vehicles to shrink by 30.1% while the heavy commercial market contracted by 42.3% both compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, sales of light commercial vehicles were almost at 2008 levels.
In 2009, Turkey's motor vehicle exports totalled 628,970 dropping by 31% compared to 2008. During the year, passenger car exports amounted to 388,944 units, commercial vehicle exports totalled 240,000 units while tractor exports reached 8,885 units with respective decreases of 25.9%, 38% and 15%.
