Trade Minister Omer Bolat has officially called for the full and unconditional inclusion of Türkiye in the European Union’s 'Made in EU' policy. The minister made the announcement on Thursday following a series of discussions in Brussels with key representatives from the European automotive industry.
During his visit, Bolat met with Sigrid de Vries, the director general of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), to evaluate the potential impacts of the policy on the existing automotive ecosystem shared between Türkiye and the EU. The minister also participated in a roundtable session with representatives from various member companies of the association. Throughout these meetings, the Turkish delegation highlighted that the long-standing investments by European automakers in Türkiye serve as a clear sign of deep industrial integration, supported by the Türkiye-EU Customs Union and a partnership built on mutual trust.
Bolat reported that there was a consensus among the automotive sector representatives regarding the necessity of including Türkiye in the 'Made in EU' framework. Expressing satisfaction with the outcome, Bolat stated, "We were pleased to see consensus among automotive sector representatives on Türkiye’s full and unconditional inclusion in the ‘Made in EU’ policy." He further emphasized that the government intends to continue its initiatives, with private sector support, to bolster the automotive industry, which he identified as a vital pillar of the country’s commercial integration with Europe.
The push for policy inclusion comes as the automotive sector maintains its position as Türkiye’s leading export industry. According to the Automotive Industry Exporters’ Association, the sector reached a record $41.5 billion in overseas sales in 2025, marking an 11.6 percent increase. Exports to EU member states totaled $30.11 billion, representing 72.5 percent of the sector’s total export volume and highlighting the strength of the market integration. Data from the Automotive Manufacturers Association indicates that Türkiye produced nearly 1.42 million motor vehicles in 2025, a figure that includes approximately 872,500 passenger cars, with passenger car exports reaching nearly 599,700 units for the year.
