Turkey has entered the electric vehicle market with its first domestically produced electric car, Togg. Despite being dependent on foreign companies for key components such as lithium-ion batteries and engines, Togg has made a mark in the industry. A prestige project for the Turkish president, Togg has made news since its announcement with its affordable pricing and promising features. Let’s look into those unique features and other specialities this EV car brand has to offer that challenged even Elon Musk to sell Tesla in Turkey:
The Founding of Togg
Togg was founded in 2018 as a five-company joint venture, aiming to produce 17,000 to 18,000 electric cars in Turkey’s northwest. Its name is an acronym for Türkiye’nin Otomobili Girişim Grubu — Turkey’s Automobile Joint Venture Group Inc. Togg has recently unveiled five models, including the T10X, the first to hit the market.
Features and Pricing
The T10X model is priced between $50,200 and $55,600, offering a range of 314 kilometers. Togg also offers a longer-range model, which has an estimated 520km between charges, priced at around $64,000. The vehicle offers a small degree of autonomous driving, including a rush hour mode that allows drivers to remove their hands from the wheel under 15km/h.
Togg’s all-wheel-drive version is expected to hit the market by the end of October, and export to Europe should begin at the end of 2024. The car can be charged from 20 per cent to 80 per cent in less than 28 minutes.
Togg’s Presidential Endorsement
Togg received a significant endorsement when Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took delivery of the country’s first domestically produced electric vehicle, the T10X. In a small ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, President Erdogan and his wife Emine took the maroon compact SUV for a spin around the presidential complex.
The Erdogan administration has provided significant support to the Togg project, including tax cuts, free land, low borrowing costs, and a state purchase guarantee of 30,000 vehicles a year until the end of 2035.
The Future of Togg
Despite the challenges of producing a domestically made electric car, Togg has demonstrated the potential for Turkey to compete in the electric vehicle market. As Togg continues to expand its offerings and make a mark in the industry, it is expected to create jobs and contribute to Turkey’s economic growth. The demand is booming for this first of a kind innovation from Turkey, thanks to the backing of the Erdogan administration and its commitment to innovation and technological advancement. The sales figures shows significant rise with the preorder prior to the launch, which points to its success.
Final Thoughts
The Togg is an impressive entrant to the electric car market, and its launch is a momentous milestone for Turkey’s automotive industry. With the unwavering support of President Erdogan, the car has the potential to become a game-changer not only in Turkey but globally. The car’s standout features, such as its impressive range, fast charging time, and autonomous driving capabilities, make it a top choice for electric car enthusiasts. The strategic branding of Togg as Turkey’s first domestically produced electric car enhances its appeal and is expected to be a driving force in boosting the car’s popularity and promoting Turkey as a top destination for cutting-edge electric car technology.
