Turkey's first domestically made car makes international debut in Las Vegas

09:216/01/2022, Perşembe
U: 6/01/2022, Perşembe
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Turkey’s first indigenous car TOGG is displayed at Consumers Electronics Show, CES 2022 in Las Vegas Convention Center, United States on January 5, 2022.
Turkey’s first indigenous car TOGG is displayed at Consumers Electronics Show, CES 2022 in Las Vegas Convention Center, United States on January 5, 2022.

TOGG aims to produce 1 million vehicles in 5 different segments by 2030, says CEO

Turkey's first domestically-produced car made its public debut Wednesday at CES 2022, the world's largest consumer electronics show, which is being held in the US city of Las Vegas.

"We define ourselves as a technology company. That is why we are at CES, the gathering place for the latest technological innovations and firsts," Gurcan Karakas, the CEO of Turkey’s Automobile Joint Venture Group (TOGG), the consortium that developed the car, said during a press conference at the event.

Karakas said that TOGG’s technologies, brought together under the ‘Smart Life’ platform, encompass much more than a fully connected car.

“We are building TOGG with a completely user-centric approach. If a product does not create user value, it will not survive.

"We defined our C-SUV smart device as user-centric, smart, empathetic, connected, autonomous, shared and electric," he noted.

"The Use-Case Mobility concept, which embodies these characteristics, has been registered all around the world. We worked on over 350 use cases and came up with over 40 innovative ideas. More than 2,000 people took part in quantitative research which included more than 30 focus groups and interviews. A ‘User Journey Map’ was developed based on the concepts we prioritized," he added.

- Smart energy solutions

Karakas said the TOGG's portfolio includes smart energy solutions, adding: "We will manufacture our batteries in-house through Siro Silk Road Clean Energy Solutions, a joint venture with Farasis Energy."

"We aim to supply batteries for all types of electric vehicles and to establish a presence in non-automotive sectors as a battery and energy storage systems provider," he said.

- Europe's first non-traditional born electric SUV

TOGG aims to produce one million vehicles in five different segments by 2030.

"By the end of 2022, we will launch our first mass production vehicle," he said.

"Our first vehicle in the C-segment, the SUV, will be launched in the first quarter of 2023 following the completion of homologation tests. It will be the first electric SUV produced in continental Europe by a non-traditional manufacturer."

In June 2018, five industrial giants including the 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 TOGG.

TOGG became the first Turkish brand to receive an iF Design Award in 2021, one of the most prestigious design awards in the world, with its C-SUV model.

#Turkey
#Las Vegas
#car