Business · Trade · 15 hrs ago
Toyota urges EU to include Turkey in new car production rules
Toyota is urging the European Union to include Turkey in proposed car industry rules designed to strengthen production in Europe.
The Japanese carmaker says the rules should recognize manufacturing and supply links with trusted partners, including Turkey, the United Kingdom and Japan.
It prefers a “Made with Europe” approach to rules focused only on goods made inside the EU.
Germany and France have agreed on a position that could include the UK under certain conditions, but not Turkey.
Toyota says the wider market involving these partners is about 31 million vehicles, and argues that excluding them could weaken Europe's competitiveness.
If the rules pass in their current form, Turkish carmakers could face reduced access to some public support and new model investments could be affected.
The final terms will be settled in EU negotiations; the rules have not yet been adopted across the bloc.
Toyota has urged the European Union to include Turkey in new car production rules, alongside trusted trade partners with qualifying trade or customs-union ties.
The Japanese carmaker called for a “Made with Europe” approach rather than rules limited to production within the EU.
Toyota said Europe’s accessible automotive market would reach about 31 million vehicles when Turkey, the United Kingdom and Japan are included.
Germany and France have agreed on an approach that could include the United Kingdom under certain conditions but does not provide a similar exception for Turkey.
The rules have not been adopted across the EU, and their final terms are expected to be settled in negotiations.
- Who
- Toyota, including Toyota Motor Europe President and CEO Yoshihiro Nakata, called for Turkey to be included.
- What
- Toyota wants EU car production rules to cover trusted trade partners such as Turkey. It also seeks equal access to public support for vehicles made with those partners.
- When
- The report was published on October 17, 2026. The EU rules are still under discussion.
- Where
- The rules concern the European Union; Toyota’s appeal highlights Turkey’s place in Europe’s automotive supply chain.
- Why
- Toyota says including trusted partners would protect Europe’s competitiveness and existing supply chains.
Toyota
Germany and France
Scope of the rules
Toyota
Toyota wants qualifying trusted partners, including Turkey, to count as part of European production.
Germany and France
Their agreed approach would allow the United Kingdom to qualify under certain conditions but does not provide a similar exception for Turkey.
Industrial strategy
Toyota
Toyota argues that European competitiveness depends on international partnerships and existing supply chains.
Germany and France
French President Emmanuel Macron said future electric cars should be made in France and Europe.
Germany and France agreed on an approach to the Made in Europe rules that could include the United Kingdom under certain conditions, but not Turkey.
Habertürk reported Toyota’s call for the EU to include Turkey and other trusted partners in its new production rules.
The EU-wide rules remain unadopted, with their final terms expected to be settled through EU negotiations.
- Accessible automotive market
- About 31 million vehicles when Turkey, the United Kingdom and Japan are included
- Toyota’s preferred approach
- Made with Europe
- Turkey’s status in the Germany-France approach
- No similar exception to the one proposed for the United Kingdom
- EU rules
- Not yet adopted across the EU
1 source
What people are saying
Toyota is not a guest in Europe. We are a European manufacturer and want the European automotive industry to succeed
Made in Europe
Made with Europe
We want the electric cars of the future to be made in France and Europe