ISTANBUL
The automobile and light commercial vehicle market in Turkey shrank 20.7 percent between January and May 2012 when compared to the same period last year.
A total of 269,565 automobiles and light commercial vehicles were sold in the first five months of 2012. In the same term last year, a total of 340,299 automobiles and light commercial vehicles were sold in Turkey.
According to a report prepared by the Association of Automotive Distributors (ODD), a total of 70,863 automobiles and light commercial vehicles were sold in May 2012 in Turkey.
In May 2011, a total of 80,646 automobiles and light commercial vehicles were sold in Turkey. Thus, sales in the auto market of Turkey in May 2012 were down 12.1 percent when compared to the same month last year.
Renault led all automobile sales in Turkey while Ford led all light commercial vehicles sales in the first five months of 2012.
Evaluating the drop in sales, ODD's General Coordinator Hayri Erce said that among many reasons for the shrinkage in the auto market was the increase in special consumption taxes (OTV).
