UPDATE - Turkey publicizes prototype of first indigenous car

UPDATES WITH ERDOGAN'S TEST DRIVE, REVISES HEADLINE

By Nilay Kar Onum and Handan Kazanci

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkey’s president unveiled Friday the country’s first indigenous automobile prototype -- a move which he said will realize the country’s long-time dream.

Speaking at the publicity ceremony of the car in the industrial province of Kocaeli, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: “Today, we are witnessing a historic day of realizing Turkey's 60-year dream together."

Stating that over 100 Turkish engineers worked to realize the project, he said: "We don't buy a license or permission from anyone, we determine all the technical features by ourselves.”

Erdogan stressed Turkey will deter all efforts to hinder the production of its own car.

“They managed to hinder the production of Devrim but they will not be able to hinder this automobile," he added.

Turkey first attempted to produce its own car in 1961, the Devrim (Revolution), but it never made it past the prototype stage.

“Turkey is not only a market for new technologies but has become a country that develops, produces and exports them all over the world," Erdogan said.

The Turkish president also said the factory for Turkey's first car will open in Gemlik district of the northwestern Bursa province.

The automobile "will not pollute the environment by working with zero-emission technology,” he said.

Erdogan placed an advance order for the car and later sat behind the wheel of one of the cars. The two models unveiled on Friday are red and white in color, to signify the Turkish flag.

In June 2018, five Turkish industry giants; Anadolu Group, BMC, Kok Group, Turkcell and Zorlu Holding as well as an umbrella organization, the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, joined hands to create an indigenous car.

Turkey has mobilized 750 million Turkish liras (over $126 million) to fund innovation and regional development, according to the country’s industry and technology minister.

The electric car will have five models with 175,000 units produced in a year.

The Turkish president also gave a test-drive for the SUV model of Turkey’s new full-electric car. He sat behind the wheel just after the publicity ceremony of the automobile in Kocaeli.

Turkey’s Technology and Industry Minister Mustafa Varank, and Gurcan Karakas, the CEO of Turkey’s Automobile Joint Venture Group (TOGG), a conglomerate of industrial giants, as well as Erdogan's grandchild Ahmet Akif Albayrak accompanied Turkish president during the test-driving.