ISTANBUL, Jan 7 (Reuters) - China's Dongfeng Motor is in talks with an investor about producing passenger cars in Turkey, the company's Turkish distributor said.
Turkey, with annual sales of 1.4 million vehicles, is a relatively large market and has custom free trade with the EU. Car imports to Turkey from China are subject to extra taxes and Chinese car manufacturers including Chery have been seeking to set up production with local partners.
"We are working hard to begin production this year," Yavuz
Cirak, CEO of Dongfeng's local distributor Marcar and a party to the talks, said in a statement published on LinkedIn.
Dongfeng Motor did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The investor has secured a production facility, though a final decision for investment is not guaranteed and talks are ongoing. Marcar would oversee local sales and provide support for the cars, the statement said.
Cirak, when contacted by Reuters on Wednesday, declined to name the investor citing a confidentiality agreement.
A post on the Turkish Instagram account of Dongfeng's luxury car brand Voyah on Monday, stated that local production of a hybrid model was in the works.
Despite heavy taxes, Turkish car sales jumped to a record last year thanks to growing adult population and EV demand.
Chinese manufacturer BYD is expected to start production in Turkey at the end of 2026.
(Reporting by Can Sezer; Additional reporting by Zoey Zhang in Shanghai, Mirac Eren Dereli in Gdansk; Editing by Daren Butler and Elaine Hardcastle)
