First Turkish-German Automotive Summit: A New Industrial Axis for Europe’s Mobility Economy

TAYSAD, in cooperation with OİB and with the support of the Ministry of Trade, held the first Turkish-German Automotive Summit in Berlin. The event highlighted that Türkiye is no longer merely a production base but has become an active player in Europe’s technological value chain. The summit addressed key transformation areas of the automotive industry, including electric mobility, digitalization, and sustainable supply chains.

TAYSAD Chairman Yakup Birinci emphasized the strong relationship between the Turkish supplier industry and Germany, stating: “At this very moment, 410 trucks are transporting high-quality components of the Turkish supplier industry to Germany. This is not just a logistical operation; it is a tangible reflection of a trust built over more than half a century, and a testament to the strategic partnership and strong connection between our industries.” The summit once again underscored Türkiye’s strategic importance within Europe’s mobility ecosystem.

Held on 20 November 2025 in Berlin, the summit brought together representatives from business, government, and academia in both countries to discuss the future of the European automotive industry and the role of bilateral cooperation in technological transformation. The event took place at a time when global industrial policies are being reshaped and the automotive sector is accelerating its transition to electrification, digitalization, and sustainable value chains.

While Germany continues to serve as Europe’s industrial hub, Türkiye plays an increasingly critical role within the continent’s supply chain architecture thanks to its extensive production capacity, strong export performance, and growing R&D and engineering capabilities.

The summit hosted notable participants such as Türkiye’s Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, former CEO of Volkswagen AG and current Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Infineon Technologies AG Dr. Herbert Diess, CEO of Daimler Buses Till Oberwörder, and Togg CEO Gürcan Karakaş. The panels addressed key themes of industrial transformation, including technological innovation, the digitalization of production, sustainable supply chains, and research collaborations.

OİB Chairman Baran Çelik noted that Türkiye has become an integral part of Europe’s technological value chain, emphasizing the importance of joint development activities, R&D cooperation, and deeper supply chain integration. He underlined that the Turkish automotive industry is ready to support Europe’s transformation and invited partners to enhance collaboration with Türkiye.

Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır highlighted Türkiye’s strategic position, stressing that the country possesses a highly developed research and innovation ecosystem as well as a strong and deeply rooted industrial infrastructure—positioning Türkiye to play a leading role in the mobility-focused transformation of the automotive sector.

German industry representatives also voiced strong support for this view.
Dr. Herbert Diess stated that Türkiye’s strengths—from competitive cost structures to its dynamic production landscape—directly contribute to Europe’s competitiveness.
Till Oberwörder added that Türkiye remains the most strategically important component of their operational setup.

The summit clearly demonstrated the crucial role that Turkish-German cooperation already plays in Europe’s shift toward a new mobility landscape—and the growing importance this partnership is set to assume in the future.