Newsletters
Motorcycle use is picking up pace across Türkiye, with the number of new registrations outstripping cars for the first time in April—a sign that many are rethinking how they get around, especially in traffic-choked cities.
According to the latest data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), 191,983 vehicles were added to traffic in April, while 3,978 were taken off the road. That brought a net increase of 188,005 vehicles for the month. Although overall registrations were down 2.2% from a year earlier, motorcycles came out ahead, making up 43.5% of new entries, while cars followed at 41.9%. The rest included small trucks, tractors, trucks, minibuses, buses, and special-purpose vehicles.
When compared to the previous month, the gap between motorcycles and cars widened further. Motorcycle registrations went up by 18%, while car registrations dropped by more than 15%. This shift suggests that more people are turning to two-wheelers to get around heavy traffic and avoid long delays, especially in large cities where congestion has become a daily struggle.
Nowhere is that struggle more visible than in Istanbul, as the city, which has about 5.5 million registered vehicles, was ranked the most congested in the world during 2024 by U.S.-based traffic data firm Inrix. On average, drivers in Istanbul lose 105 hours a year sitting in traffic. That kind of gridlock is pushing more residents to switch gears and hop on motorcycles, which can weave through tight spots and cut down commuting time.
Even with all the congestion, Istanbul manages to keep traffic relatively safe, as data from TurkStat shows the city records fewer injury-related and fatal crashes compared to other parts of the country—an encouraging factor that may be giving hesitant riders more confidence to make the switch.
The broader picture also shows that Türkiye’s vehicle fleet continues to grow. By the end of April, the total number of registered vehicles climbed to nearly 32 million, up 8.2% from the same period last year. While cars still make up the majority at 51.8%, motorcycles now account for just over 20%, and small trucks follow at nearly 15%.
Altogether, the data paint a clear picture: traffic congestion is driving a shift in how people move through Türkiye’s cities. As more turn to motorcycles to get around faster and more easily, the country’s roads—and the way people use them—are starting to change.
1 min read
