Renault becomes Turkey’s best-selling car brand to replace Volkswagen

Volkswagen, which was the “best-selling automobile and light commercial vehicle” brand  in Turkey for the last 4 years, lost its place to Renault in January-August 2017. Based on data by the Automotive Distributors Association (ODD), in the first 8 months of 2017 Renault was the most popular brand in “automobiles and light commercial vehicles” category with approximately 76,500 corresponding to an increase of 5 percent in sales performance compared to the same period last year.

Renault which sold to 67 thousand 451 automobiles with an increase of 4 percent also sold 9 thousand 42 light commercial vehicles with an increase of 14 percent. Sales of Volkswagen on the other hand went down by 15 percent

In the same period, Fiat sold 69 thousand 92 cars and light commercial vehicles with a 15 percent increase in the total market and took the second place. 37 thousand 381 of the total figure was cars sales with 31 thousand 711 light commercial vehicles.

Volkswagen, which had the title of “the best-selling automobile and light commercial vehicle brand” in Turkey starting 2013, dropped down to third place with 67,530 units. Sales of the brand decreased by 15 percent in January-August 2017 compared to the same period last year.

It is reported that Volkswagen lost its leading place in the market because as it does not have production in Turkey and only sells imported vehicles the increase in the exchange rate boosted its imported vehicle prices in the Turkish market.