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Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD has recently regained momentum in advancing its $1 billion production facility in Türkiye, while another Chinese automaker, Chery, appears to have stalled, according to Yakup Birinci, president of the Automotive Suppliers Association of Türkiye (TAYSAD).
Birinci noted that although BYD’s investment process had temporarily slowed earlier this year, developments in recent weeks suggest progress is picking up. A delegation from the company’s global management visited Türkiye roughly two weeks ago to hold meetings with Turkish suppliers and explore next steps, Birinci told business-focused ekonomim.com.
Birinci expressed hope that BYD’s presence in Türkiye would open global supply chain opportunities for domestic manufacturers, similar to what had been achieved during the earlier investments of Japan’s Toyota and South Korea’s Hyundai in the country.
While optimistic, Birinci emphasized that expectations are based on proven industry patterns, not future assumptions. "We’re not relying on hope, but on experience," he said.
Türkiye’s Industry and Technology Ministry first announced the investment agreement with BYD in July 2024. Under the deal, the company is expected to invest around $1 billion to establish a manufacturing plant capable of producing 150,000 electric and hybrid vehicles annually. The facility is slated to begin operations by the end of 2026.
The project will also include a dedicated research and development (R&D) center and is projected to create up to 5,000 direct jobs.
While BYD’s project is gaining traction, progress appears to be slower on the side of fellow Chinese carmaker Chery. According to Birinci, Chery previously presented a detailed business plan and platform specifications during a visit by Turkish officials to China in April but failed to disclose the proposed site of the investment.
Following that trip, Birinci said Chinese state authorities appeared to become involved, possibly complicating the prospect of two large-scale Chinese investments proceeding in Türkiye simultaneously. "They showed us the entire process, down to platform details. But since then, things have slowed," he added.
Chery had earlier announced plans to establish a production and R&D campus in Samsun with a capacity of 200,000 vehicles annually.
The proposal, unveiled during a March 2025 event attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, included a $1 billion investment and 5,000 new jobs. However, in a statement to Reuters later, Chery executives confirmed that no final agreement had been signed.
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