What happened
Electric and hybrid cars made up 51.9% of Türkiye’s car market over the first eight months of 2026, according to Automotive Distributors and Mobility Association data reported by Yeşil Ekonomi. The combined share was 46.1% in the equivalent period a year earlier, a gain of 5.8 percentage points.
Sales of electric cars reached 105,951 units during the period, giving the powertrain a market share of 18.8%. Hybrid-car sales were higher, at 187,045 units, and represented 33.1% of car sales.
Across both categories, volumes totalled 292,996 vehicles. That was below the 301,275 electric and hybrid cars recorded in the corresponding eight months of 2025. The increase in market share therefore occurred while combined sales of these vehicles fell in absolute terms.
The two segments also moved in different directions. Electric-car sales declined by 12.3% from a year earlier. Hybrid sales rose 3.7%, with growth in the mild-hybrid segment contributing to the increase.
Why it matters
The figures place electric and hybrid cars above half of Türkiye’s car market for the period, even though the wider car market contracted by 13.8% year on year. Their share gain reflects a smaller decline in their combined sales than in total car sales.
For distributors, dealers and fleet buyers, the split within the market is as important as the headline combined share. Hybrids expanded in volume, while electric cars lost volume, despite both categories accounting for substantial portions of sales. Market planning should therefore assess electric, hybrid and mild-hybrid demand separately rather than treating them as one uniform segment.
The data also distinguish market share from sales growth. Electric and hybrid vehicles increased their share of purchases, but their combined volume was lower than in the comparable 2025 period. Readers tracking powertrain adoption should use both measures when assessing changes in Türkiye’s car market.
What to watch next
Subsequent monthly data will show whether hybrid growth, including mild hybrids, continues and whether electric-car volumes recover. They will also indicate whether the combined share remains above 50% if total car sales change further.
