Turkish Automotive Spare Part Industry


Turkey's automotive spare part industry has been making a mark in the global market place with innovative designs, premium quality, prominent research and development capacity technological aptitude, and cost effective manufacturing competence. The competitive structure, the power to produce consistently at high quality by recent technologies, increasing dexterity in R&D and design distinguishes Turkey as a key production base and market for the global automotive industry. Supplier companies in Turkey have capability to perform all stages of production from drawing to the finished products. A token of the supplier industry's level of technology is that 70% of the supplier automotive exports are made to the EU.

The Automotive sector has expanded into a huge industry for Turkey and Europe. Among European Union countries, Turkey is the largest bus producer, third largest light commercial vehicle producer and third largest truck market. Turkey is the 17th largest automotive producer in the world. Turkey's automotive sector stands out for its ability to attract major international producers such as Renault, Mercedes-Benz, Ford Otosan, Otoyol, Toyota, Hyundai and Honda. There are nine companies with truck production facilities and 10 companies involved with bus and minibus production. Companies are drawn to Turkey for its growing local market and promising neighboring export markets.

The increase of Turkish automotive production has expanded the automotive parts and service industry making automotive exports first in Turkey's overall total exports. The Turkish automotive parts industry has become an integrated part of the global automotive industry. Turkish automotive parts are compatible with brands including GM, Mercedes, Ford, BMW, and Toyota. Due to the industry's large capacity, wide variety of production, and high quality, 90% of locally produced parts are used in the production of vehicles that are exported or directly go to the world's part market.

There are approximately 4,000 auto parts manufacturers in Turkey with about 70% of them being small and medium sized businesses. These agile firms are in direct contact with automotive manufacturers and produce almost all parts and components. At present, the local parts and components production includes, but is not limited to, engines, power train parts and components, brake and clutch parts and components, suspension systems, electrical equipments, batteries, tire components, car windows, security systems, seats, and auto glass.

The industry is now capable of supplying parts to the global OEM networks with a high capacity, broad product spectrum and premium standards. The usage of locally made parts jumped from 15% in 1964 to 90% in 2008 in some vehicles. Exports of supplies industry surged closely $8.8 billion in 2008, making up 30% overall automotive exports and 6.5% of total exports. Managing business volume of $15 billion, the supplier industry grew by an average of 20% since 2000. There were 200,000 employees in the industry as of 2008.

Local manufacturers possessing 35 years of experience in the industry, team up with world brands to invest in Turkey at a momentous scale. Having reached the pinnacle in quality and standards, the industry adheres to the conditions of global competition in investing and organizational processes. Many supplier companies work as co-designers in the vehicle made in Turkey for the world, which gives them the chance to maintain the “co-designing” role for global production of OEM industry companies. Hence, prolonged experience and background have brought these companies to an important stage in wielding know-how.

The industry accredits its production quality by awards and certificates received from international organizations. Among the best examples are Turkish automotive supplier companies that won the European Quality award: tire manufacturer Brisa was the first Turkish recipient of the award (1996) followed by Beksa a year later in the field of small and medium sized enterprises. In 2003, the Bosch, (second largest manufacturer in the world of automotive systems) Bursa plant grabbed the European Quality Award, among the world's most prestigious award in the field of organizational excellence. TAYSAD is busy carrying on with quality certification activities. 115 members of the association hold ISO 9000 quality certification.

Integration to global market, technological aptitude and proficiency, geographical as well as logistical advantages, proximity to the OEM and supplier industry together grant the Turkish spare part companies an undeniable development potential and export capacity.

For more information on Turkey's automotive spare part industry:

Automotive Manufacturers' Association
www.osd.org.tr

Association of Automotive Parts & Components Manufacturers
www.taysad.org.tr