Korean automaker Hyundai is set to commence electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing at its Kocaeli factory, Turkiye, in the latter half of 2026, as declared by the company’s Turkiye General Manager, Murat Berkel, on Sunday.
Murat Berkel has revealed plans to enter Turkiye’s electric vehicle sector through a new high-tech production facility. The facility will become Turkiye’s second electric vehicle manufacturer after Togg and will hold the distinction of being the first international brand to establish EV production within the country.
Hyundai plans to produce a high-quality electric vehicle at the Kocaeli facility, which will be available to Turkish consumers and the European market.
Hyundai has experienced consistent growth in Turkiye over the past 28 years, producing over 3 million vehicles, with a current production rate of one vehicle every 92 seconds across the i10, i20, and Bayon product lines. The company employs more than 20,000 people and has exported over 2.5 million units. Last year, Hyundai produced 245,000 vehicles in three shifts, exporting 204,000 to over 40 countries and generating $2.4 billion in export revenue.
Hyundai maintained around 55% localization in its manufacturing in Turkey. In the past four years, the company’s domestic market sales surged by 120%, reaching 62,913 vehicles in 2024 and securing a 5.1% market share. Berkel also noted the rapid growth of Turkiye’s electric vehicle market, to which Hyundai contributed nearly 5,000 electric vehicles.
Berkel emphasized the goal of expanding share annually with the introduction of new models.
According to Berkel, Hyundai plans to introduce 35 new models by 2030, including 21 fully electric and 14 hybrid models, catering to a wide range of customers from affordable to luxury and high-performance vehicles. Additionally, four new factories will be established by various R&D investments and battery development projects.
Berkel projects that Hyundai has set a target of 65,000 units for 2025, striving to increase its market share to 5.9%. The company also plans to double its EV sales to over 7,000 units this year.
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