ISTANBUL: Turkey launched a joint venture to produce its first domestically-produced car in capital Ankara on Thursday, Turkey’s Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, and Science, Industry and Technology Minister Faruk Ozlu attended the launch of the automobile industry’s joint venture at the presidential palace.
Erdogan announced that five automotive supplier firms – Anadolu Group, BMC, Kiraca Holding, Turkcell, and Zorlu Holding – will jointly manufacture Turkey’s first home-made car.
The president expressed his gratitude to the firms and promised his “full support” for the venture.
“I will closely follow the developments,” he added.
The initiative came after repeated calls from Erdogan for a joint car project of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), and the Science, Industry and Technology Ministry.
Erdogan said he expected the prototype of the first domestically-produced car to be ready in 2019 and sales to start in 2021.
“I want to own the first automobile, provided that I will pay for it,” he said.
“No one should hesitate. We will produce Turkey’s car with the best design and technology, both for our country and the world.”
The president said it was a shame for Turkey to fall behind in manufacturing its domestically-produced car, noting that over 750,000 automobiles were sold in the country last year.
Turkey attempted to produce its first domestically-produced car in 1961, called Devrim (Revolution), which was not a success. The production of Devrim cars was halted after first prototypes. -- Bernama