Türkiye’s Heavy Truck Market Slows

Türkiye’s Heavy-Duty Vehicle Market Slows as Truck Sales Decline, Bus Production Rises

Despite the market contraction, heavy-duty vehicle production in Türkiye remained marginally positive, posting a 1% year-on-year increase. The data highlight a shift within the segment, as bus production surged by 26%, underscoring strong demand for public transport and export-oriented bus manufacturing. In contrast, truck production declined by 6%, while midibus output fell by 3%.

Capacity Utilization Signals Cautious Production

During the January–November period, capacity utilization in Türkiye’s heavy-duty vehicle segment stood at 57%. Utilization rates reached 67% in the bus–midibus segment, while the overall automotive industry averaged 66%, indicating a cautious but resilient production strategy among Turkish manufacturers.

Exports Cushion Domestic Market Weakness

While domestic sales weakened, Türkiye’s export performance helped limit the impact of the slowdown. Total automotive exports increased by 5% in unit terms and 11% in value terms, reaching USD 37 billion during the January–November 2025 period. According to the Uludağ Automotive Industry Exporters’ Association (OİB), high value-added commercial vehicle exports played a key role in supporting the sector.

Still Above Long-Term Averages

Despite the contraction, Türkiye’s heavy commercial vehicle market continues to operate above its long-term average. Compared with a 10-year average of 29.8 thousand units, the market reached 39.1 thousand units in January–November 2025—31% above the historical norm, underlining the structural strength of Türkiye’s heavy-duty vehicle industry.