Toyota Automotive Industry Turkey Produces 3.7 Million Cars in 30 Years
Foreks - Founded in 1990, with the foundation laid in 1992 and the first production starting in 1994 with the Corolla model in Sakarya, Toyota Automotive Industry Turkey (TMMT) celebrates the 30th anniversary of its world-class factory, which has reached an annual production capacity of 280,000 units. Over 30 years, Toyota Automotive Industry Turkey has produced a total of 3.7 million high-quality vehicles, exporting them to more than 150 countries and reaching customers around the world. In 2023, TMMT included Australia and New Zealand in its export destinations, and the one millionth hybrid C-HR was delivered to its buyer in Australia.
Erdoğan Şahin, General Manager and CEO of Toyota Automotive Industry Turkey A.Ş., stated, “With an investment of 2.5 billion Euros over 30 years, production of 3.7 million units, and a high export rate of 90%, we provide significant economic value to our sector, region, and country. Furthermore, continuing our efforts towards a sustainable future with our human and environment-focused management approach, we work together with our 5,000 employees as well as our suppliers and all business partners.”
Toyota Automotive Industry Turkey (TMMT) marks its 30th anniversary in production. Starting its first production in 1994 with the Corolla model in Sakarya, TMMT has become one of Toyota's largest factories outside Japan with an annual capacity of 280,000 vehicles over the past 30 years. Since its first day of production, TMMT has been a pioneer in its field with innovative approaches, producing Turkey's first MPV car with the Verso model and the first SUV and hybrid car with the Toyota C-HR model. The new Toyota C-HR, which started mass production in 2023, became the first plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicle produced in Turkey. With ongoing investments, Toyota Automotive Industry Turkey boasts a modern production structure meeting world standards, manufacturing three different models—gasoline, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid—on the same production line. Having produced a total of 3.7 million vehicles over 30 years, TMMT enhances the Turkish economy by exporting 90% of its hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles to 150 countries across five continents.
“We have become Toyota's largest production base in Europe.” Erdoğan Şahin, General Manager and CEO of Toyota Automotive Industry Turkey A.Ş., emphasized the significant contributions they have made to both the region and Turkey economically and socially through continuous investment and production over the past 30 years. He added that TMMT was founded in 1990, with the factory's establishment in Sakarya in 1992. “From the moment we started our first production in 1994 with the factory completed in just two years, producing reliable vehicles of superior quality has been our top priority. With our investments over 30 years, we have continuously developed our sustainable production and management approach, recognized as a quality leader in our sector. Today, in our factory that produces two different models on the same production line, we can manufacture gasoline, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid vehicles simultaneously. With our approximately 5,000 employees, suppliers, and all partners, we have grown into a large and diverse family, becoming Toyota's largest production base in Europe. With our environment and community-focused management approach, we work towards a sustainable future with the participation of all our stakeholders,” he said.
“The first hybrid was produced in Turkey.” Recalling that they began producing the Toyota C-HR in 2016, Şahin remarked, “We manufacture both hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions of our new model, which brings a new perspective to the C segment, tailored to customer needs and expectations alongside global strategies shaped by changing trends.”
The one millionth hybrid C-HR was delivered to a customer in Australia. TMMT, which exports 90% of its production worldwide, celebrated the completion of the journey of the one millionth Toyota C-HR Hybrid, known for being eco-friendly, safe, high-quality, and offering the highest level of driving comfort, with its delivery to a buyer in Australia. TMMT exports its hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles to countries including those in Oceania such as New Zealand and Australia. Erdoğan Şahin, General Manager and CEO of TMMT, stated, “As Toyota, we always work to produce better cars. In doing so, we continuously evolve, create new technologies, and position ourselves ahead of our time. We are happy to deliver our one millionth hybrid C-HR to our customer in Australia. In the coming period, we will continue to present our vehicles to global markets with new export markets. We achieve this with the diligent efforts of every one of our employees. Once again, I would like to thank all our employees and business partners.”
“In 30 years, we have produced 3.7 million vehicles.” Şahin shared that Toyota Automotive Industry Turkey currently has an annual production capacity of 280,000 vehicles, highlighting that they have set a significant record with the total production of 3.7 million vehicles over 30 years. He noted that they export their manufactured vehicles to countries all around the world, stating, “Today, we export nearly 90% of the production of our Corolla and C-HR models to 150 countries across five continents. With our exports, we have once again become the second largest exporting company in Turkey in 2023, as we have in the past.”
“We have made a 2.5 billion Euro investment.” Şahin noted that they began producing the second generation Toyota C-HR and PHEV batteries in 2023, stating, “For this, we have made an additional investment of 308 million Euros as Toyota Automotive Industry Turkey. With this investment, our total investment has now reached 2.5 billion Euros." He emphasized that with the production of the new generation Toyota C-HR, they became the first factory in Turkey and among Toyota’s European factories to produce plug-in vehicles and stated, “With our new battery production line in Sakarya, which has an annual capacity of 75,000 units, we have become the center of electrification transformation in Toyota’s European operations. In this new battery line, we produce batteries for the next generation of plug-in hybrid vehicles. With this production hub supporting electrification transformation, we undertake an important role in achieving Toyota Europe's goals.”
Cars produced by Toyota Automotive Industry Turkey in 30 years: Model Quantity Corolla 1,380,970 C-HR 1,255,365 Verso 767,790 Auris 283,410 Total 3,687,535