Hyundai EV Production in Türkiye Begins 2026 at Izmit Plant

Hyundai Gears Up for EV Production in Türkiye in Second Half of 2026

ISTANBUL — Dec. 21, 2025

Hyundai is expected to launch production of its first fully electric vehicle in Türkiye in the second half of 2026, marking a major milestone for both the company and the country’s automotive industry, a senior executive said.

The electric model will be manufactured at Hyundai’s Izmit plant, making the South Korean automaker the second electric vehicle producer in Türkiye after domestic brand Togg. Earlier reports indicated that Hyundai could begin producing its newly unveiled Concept THREE model in Türkiye in 2026, following its debut at the IAA Mobility auto show in Germany.

“Frankly, we are proud, happy and excited, because we will become the second brand to produce an electric car in these lands.”

— Murat Berkel, General Manager of Hyundai Türkiye

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Strong Market Performance in 2025

Evaluating the automotive sector’s performance in 2025, Berkel said the year had been positive in terms of production, domestic sales and exports. He projected that Türkiye’s automotive market would close the year at around 1.35 million units, the highest annual sales figure on record.

He noted that monthly vehicle sales exceeded 100,000 units in all but the first two months of 2025, signaling a sustained upward trend.

Market Constraint: High interest rates and limited access to credit remain the main factors constraining further growth.

Despite these challenges, Hyundai also posted strong results in 2025. The company sold 59,618 vehicles in the first 11 months, more than 37,000 of which were locally produced models. Hyundai expects to close the year with total sales exceeding 66,000 units.

Rapid Growth of Türkiye's EV Market

Berkel highlighted the rapid growth of Türkiye’s electric vehicle market. EV sales rose by 100% year-on-year to 166,000 units in the first 11 months of 2025.

EV Market Share Growth: From 1% five years ago to 14% in 2025, with an expected 35–40% by 2030.

Hyundai's Electrification Strategy for Türkiye

As part of Hyundai’s electrification strategy, Berkel said the locally produced electric model, scheduled to enter production in August 2026, will bring the brand’s total number of electric models in Türkiye to seven.

Model Milestone: More than half of Hyundai’s 13 models on sale in the country will be electric.

He added that Hyundai will introduce the facelifted IONIQ 6 in June 2026, featuring improvements in design and technology, while the domestically produced electric model from the Izmit factory will represent a turning point for the brand.

Historic Izmit Plant Upgraded for EVs

Established in 1997 as Hyundai’s first overseas production base, the Izmit plant has been fully upgraded for electric vehicle manufacturing. Berkel emphasized that producing an electric vehicle in Türkiye with Turkish labor will contribute significantly to both the national economy and the automotive industry.

Hyundai will continue producing internal combustion engine models at the Izmit facility and plans to introduce next-generation hybrid technology starting in 2027, he said.