Dongfeng in talks to build passenger cars in Turkey
B. Naumkin
Chinese automaker Dongfeng is negotiating with an investor to launch passenger car production in Turkey, leveraging EU customs access and demand for exports.
Chinese automaker Dongfeng is in talks with an investor about setting up passenger car production in Turkey, according to Marcar CEO Yavuz Cirak, who is directly involved in the negotiations.
He indicated the goal is to start manufacturing in the near term, though a final investment decision has yet to be taken. Discussions are ongoing, and the investor’s identity remains under wraps because of a confidentiality agreement. What is known is that the potential partner has already secured a production site, while Marcar would take on sales and aftersales support in the local market if a deal goes ahead.
Dongfeng’s interest in Turkey looks pragmatic. The country is a sizable car market, at about 1.4 million vehicles a year, and benefits from customs arrangements with the EU — making local assembly attractive not only for domestic demand but also as a springboard for exports. Mounting taxes on cars imported from China add another push; Chinese brands are increasingly pursuing a build-with-a-local-partner model, and Dongfeng is moving in step with that trend. The logic is hard to fault.
There are indirect signals as well. A post on the Turkish page of premium brand Voyah previously indicated that local assembly of a hybrid model was being explored. Meanwhile, Turkey set record auto sales last year despite steep taxes, helped by a growing adult population and stronger appetite for electrified versions — conditions that tend to reward manufacturers willing to localize.
