Motorization in Turkey: The Case of Passenger Cars

Abstract

This paper examines the dynamics of passenger car ownership in Turkey and its implications for urban development and daily life. Since the 1970s, Turkey has developed a significant car production industry, strengthened by alliances between international and domestic manufacturers. Economic restructuring, urbanisation, and customs union with the EU further accelerated car imports and exports, leading to a sharp rise in car ownership: from 2.8 million vehicles in 1995 to over 8.1 million in 2012. Despite this threefold increase, private car ownership in Turkey remains relatively low compared to Europe and North America, suggesting the country is on the verge of a rapid expansion in motorisation. This trend has already transformed compact urban structures, creating problems such as traffic congestion, land use changes, sprawl, and socio-spatial segregation. The paper employs macroeconomic and demographic statistics at the provincial level to uncover regional differences in motorisation and its pace, with comparisons to France, Germany, Greece, and the USA. Findings highlight the pressures that increasing motorisation places on urban form, infrastructure, and quality of life, particularly in large metropolitan areas such as Istanbul and Ankara.