Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 13
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
Turkey is interested in exporting cars of domestic production to Azerbaijan as well as the Central Asian markets (Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan), Ministry of Industry and Technology of Turkey told Trend on Nov. 13.
The ministry noted that before proceeding with the export to the markets of Turkic countries, Turkey plans to study the car markets there.
"Turkey intends to export domestically produced cars to other neighboring markets as well," the ministry said.
The ministry added that the Turkish cars will be able to compete with the products of other car manufacturers, both domestically and abroad.
Minister of Industry and Technology of Turkey Mustafa Varank had earlier said the first prototype of the Turkish car will be ready in 2019.
Varank also noted that currently the production of domestic cars is one of the priorities for Turkey.
Earlier, the Turkish Zorlu Holding, together with four other companies that are members of the consortium for development of a domestic car, presented the first prototype of the vehicle.
The prototype was developed together with Vestel Elektronik and is titled VEO.
Earlier, Minister of Science, Industry and Technology of Turkey Faruk Ozlu said Turkey will invest $3 billion in creating a domestic car.
Ozlu said work is currently underway to develop prototypes of five different models of the domestic car. The minister also noted that one of the cars will be equipped with an electric motor.
On Nov. 2, 2017, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the companies that will participate in the creation of the domestic car - Anadolu Grubu, BMC, Kıraca Holding, Turkcell and Zorlu Holding.
Erdogan stressed that the creation of a domestic car will strengthen the economy of Turkey. The president also said that Turkey will export domestic cars to neighboring countries.
The cars developed in Turkey will be manufactured with different engines.
The purchase of a domestic car in Turkey will be exempt from a special consumer tax.
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