Chinese automotive investment in Manisa: 2,500 Chinese Workers and Their Families to Arrive in Town

Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ferdi Zeyrek has announced that 2,500 Chinese employees and their families will move to the city as part of a $1 billion investment by Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD.

The partnership stems from an agreement signed in July between BYD and Turkey’s Ministry of Industry and Technology, garnering significant attention in the global automotive sector. This collaboration involves a planned investment of approximately $1 billion, with infrastructure work already underway on a designated 160-hectare area in the Manisa Organized Industrial Zone (OSB).

Investment Highlights:

• Employment Impact: Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır stated that the project would indirectly create employment for 20,000 people, with production expected to commence in 2026. The land allocation process in the Manisa OSB has been completed, and construction permit applications have been submitted.
• City Development: Speaking to Egedesonsöz, Mayor Ferdi Zeyrek emphasized the economic benefits of BYD’s factory for Manisa. He shared details of the municipality’s plans to integrate the incoming workforce, including establishing a “Chinese Street” and new residential areas tailored to the workers’ needs.

Mayor Zeyrek elaborated:

• “We need to retain BYD’s economic contributions in Manisa. As an architect, I aim to provide sustainable solutions. This is akin to welcoming another Vestel to the city, given the scale of the project and its potential to attract ancillary industries. I’m directing incoming businesses toward new industrial zones to foster growth in districts like Soma and Kırkağaç.”
• “We’re also working on establishing a logistics hub. The Alsancak Port in İzmir has reached capacity. Our plan is to use Soma as a logistics corridor to connect to Aliağa and Çandarlı ports via rail. This would expand the city’s industrial reach and infrastructure.”

This development signals a significant economic transformation for Manisa, aligning with broader regional and national industrial growth goals.