Türkiye's automotive industry exported $3.94 billion worth of goods in September, according to figures released on October 8 by the Automotive Industry Exporters' Association (OİB), which operates under the Uludağ Exporters' Associations. The sector accounted for 15.2 percent of Türkiye's total exports and retained its leading position.
Automotive exports reached $31.145 billion in the January-September period. The nine-month total underlines the industry's continued weight in Türkiye's foreign sales, while OİB's breakdown by product group and destination shows where the export value was concentrated.
Supply industry remains the largest segment
The supply industry was the biggest product group in September with exports of $1.46 billion. Passenger car exports totaled $1.098 billion, while motor vehicles for transporting goods generated $800 million. Bus, minibus and midibus exports stood at $251 million, and tractor unit exports reached $292 million.
Supply industry exports amounted to $12.135 billion in the first nine months of the year, representing 39 percent of total automotive exports over that period. The figures show that parts and component manufacturing continues to play a decisive role alongside sales of finished vehicles.
The product breakdown also shows that several branches of vehicle manufacturing contributed to the monthly total at the same time. The supply industry's position as the largest category reflects the role of manufacturers in Türkiye that provide parts and systems to international vehicle production chains. Passenger cars and vehicles designed to carry goods together accounted for another substantial portion of September's performance.
Germany leads the destination list
Germany remained the industry's largest national market in September, receiving $629 million in automotive exports. France ranked second at $506 million, followed by the United Kingdom at $453 million. Exports to Italy totaled $349 million, while shipments to the United States were valued at $116 million.
European Union countries collectively received $2.89 billion in automotive exports in September and accounted for 73.4 percent of the month's sector total. In the January-September period, exports to the EU reached $22.948 billion, equivalent to 73.7 percent of Türkiye's automotive exports. The concentration confirms that European demand remains central to the industry's external sales profile.
OİB said exports increased in four of the five largest markets. Germany led destinations for the supply industry, while France was the biggest market for passenger cars. The United Kingdom, Germany and Italy stood out for vehicles designed to transport goods, illustrating how destination rankings differ across product categories.
OİB focuses on the final quarter
OİB Chair Kemal Yazıcı said the automotive industry maintained its leadership in Türkiye's exports during September. He said the association aims to preserve the sector's strength in existing markets and push exports further in the remainder of the year.
The published figures measure export value and do not, on their own, establish trends in production volumes, profitability or domestic sales. They do, however, provide a detailed view of the product mix and geographic distribution of external demand. Publishing the monthly snapshot alongside the nine-month cumulative total makes it possible to track both the latest performance and the scale built up during the year.
Two features stand out in the September data: the scale of the supply industry and the EU's dominant share of the total. Germany, France and the United Kingdom occupying the top three places also confirms the continuing importance of Türkiye's principal European markets. How much the industry can add in the final quarter to its nine-month total of more than $31.1 billion will depend on demand and deliveries across external markets, especially in Europe.
