Togg produces first electric cars in Turkey

Turkey’s budding EV manufacturer Togg has taken a key step toward series production. Togg released the first test cars straight off the lines in the Gemlik industrial centre, southeast of Istanbul. CEO Gürcan Karakas told German media more about the ambitious schedule.

++ This article has been updated; please continue reading below. ++

Quotes Handelsblatt: “At the beginning of November, we will have perfected the processes and then freeze them in this form,” said the Togg CEO. “Then we will have our production line ready for series production.”

Togg expects to complete technical qualification and certification to European standards throughout the first quarter of 2023. That is when the markets will see the first Togg model, an electric SUV.

The present test cars are still the production samples, not pre-series production EVs. That will only start with the “freeze” announced by Karakas and once the manufacturing equipment is ready for series production.

Following the Handelsblatt interview, Togg essentially confirmed the information via Twitter: “We held our board meeting this month at our Gemlik facility where we started trial production.”

Bu ayki Yönetim Kurulu toplantımızı deneme üretimlerine başladığımız Gemlik Tesisimizde yaptık.

Toplantımızın ardından tesislerimizi ziyaret eden Ticaret Bakanımız Sn. Mehmet Muş ile bir istişare toplantısı ve test sürüşü gerçekleştirdik.#YeniLigGemlik#Togg pic.twitter.com/6Mv6Bzxs5m

— Togg (@Togg2022) July 30, 2022

The schedule largely follows earlier reports. Togg also announced to launch of more models following the electric SUV. While also will utilise the same architecture, designs will vary. Togg distinguishes between Western and Oriental tastes but has only envisioned Turkey as the launch market so far.

Regarding technology, battery options may provide 300 or 500 kilometres of range, and Togg plans a 147 kW rear-mounted engine and a 294 kW all-wheel drive with two motors.

Togg was founded in 2019 as a joint project between six major Turkish groups to establish a Turkish (electric) carmaker. So far, Turkey has mainly produced vehicles and components for international brands.

Conditions for Karakas, the ex-Bosch manager appointed as Togg CEO, and his team have been anything but good. Inflation in Turkey is as high as 80 per cent. However, Togg has the support of the Turkish government, which, according to Handelsblatt, has partially waived taxes for the company and interest on the government loan.

There are also no reliable price statements, probably due to currency fluctuations. The E-SUV is to be followed by a sedan, a hatchback in the C segment, a B-SUV and a van.

Update 01 September 2022

Turkey’s Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank has revealed a more detailed schedule of the domestic electric car manufacturer Togg. Their plant in Gemlik will open on 29 October 2022 and the market launch in Turkey is scheduled for March 2023.

Following the above test production, Togg has also test production of batteries through its joint venture with the Chinese battery manufacturer Farasis Energy dubbed Siro as reported. The JV will assemble batteries right on site at Gemlik. Siro plans cell production only in a further step.

Additional reporting by Sebastian Schaal, Germany.

handelsblatt.com (in German), turkey.postsen.com (update Sept ’22)