Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) data for August 2025 shows a decline in electric car sales. This decline is believed to be a reflection of the Special Consumption Tax (SCT) increase implemented on electric vehicles at the end of July.
Decrease in Electric Vehicle Sales
As of August, the total number of cars registered in Turkey reached 16,944,312. Fossil fuel-powered vehicles still constitute the majority of these vehicles. Diesel cars lead the way with a 33.1% share, while LPG and gasoline vehicles account for 30.7%.
Hybrid vehicles account for 3.4%, while electric cars account for only 1.8%. This data demonstrates that the vast majority of vehicles on the road continue to emit carbon emissions.
The rapid rise in electric car sales lost momentum in August. While electric cars accounted for 17.6% of vehicles registered in the first eight months of the year, this rate began to decline in August. In July 2025, 22.2% of new cars registered on the road were electric vehicles.
In August, this number decreased by approximately 5,000 units, dropping to 19.8%. This decline clearly demonstrates the impact of the Special Consumption Tax (SCT) hike implemented on July 24th on sales. This figure is expected to drop further in September.
Industry experts state that the SCT hike has reduced the appeal of electric cars and caused potential buyers to postpone their decisions. Price increases are driving consumers who were previously considering buying an electric vehicle back to fossil fuel or hybrid models.
This situation could impact the growth rate of Turkey’s electric vehicle market, causing a short-term slowdown in the achievement of environmentally friendly transportation goals. What are your thoughts on this? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
