Turkish gov't holds talks with Fiat over domestic car
by Daily Sabah
ISTANBULMay 10, 2016 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by Daily Sabah
May 10, 2016 12:00 am
Science, Industry and Technology Minister Fikri Işık shared the details of Turkey's first domestically designed and produced automobile, stressing that the advanced technology developed by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) will be used throughout the vehicle. "Apart from automotive companies, we will be a rival to high-tech companies such as Tesla, Google and Apple. We are holding talks with world automobile giants like Fiat regarding our car, which is scheduled to hit the road in 2019," the minister added.
The challenging stages of the domestic car's development are being completed one-by-one. In addition to technical developments regarding the equipment needed, significant progress has been made in terms of its design. Stressing that the car has been designed in a way to delight Turkish consumers, Işık said the ministry is working in cooperation with Turkish designers. The minister introduced the models of two new designs developed for the domestic car during a meeting with journalists at the TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center in Gebze, Istanbul. Both models have been developed based on two models that were bought for $40 million from Swedish car manufacturer Saab.According to Işık, designs in D segment, which are more than 4.5 meters long, have been developed by Italian and Swedish designers, as well as two Turkish designers who live abroad, Uğur İpek and Uğur Şahin. The minister did not allow journalists to take photos of the models due to commercial reasons. There are also plans to develop hatchback (HB) and sport utility vehicle (SUV) models in addition to the existing sedan model.
The minister said the domestic automobile has proceeded to the next stage, adding that the electric car, in which TÜBİTAK's internal combustion engine is used, has been opened to not only domestic investment groups but also international cooperation. "The domestic car project will be a showcased where Turkey's new domestic technologies will be displayed," he said. "We aim to free TÜBİTAK from the state budget. TÜBİTAK needs to unite all elements of domestic car project, transfer the project to an investment group and focus on new projects," Işık added. He also said TÜBİTAK has started working on new and smaller platforms, adding that works are continuing on not only an electric car that has an internal combustion range enhancer, but also fuel cell vehicles.
Stressing that the global automotive sector will see major changes soon, Işık said many parts that are being used in the cars at the moment will not be used in the near future. "With this project, our rivals have changed. With the development style of the domestic automobile, we plan to challenge technology companies such as Tesla, Google and Apple, which cement their success with different ideas on the market rather than traditional car manufacturers."
Işık added that the Turkish defense industry has made the greatest creative and technological contributions to the domestic car project which will improve Turkey's experience and knowledge in this field. Pointing to the fact that the two models bought from Saab allow Turkey to save not only time but also money in developing a new car, Işık said that building a car based on an existing model has many advantages as it has already undergone platform many tests successfully and proved its commercial success. "This being the case, we saved at least four years," he told.
According to the minister, various pieces of equipment developed by TÜBİTAK will first be used in the defense industry and then in the domestic car, which helps the project progress very rapidly and gain a cost advantage. An imported sensor, which is used in domestic lance missiles, costs $2,500; however, a sensor developed by TÜBİTAK costs $400. "When we started using domestic sensors, foreign producers reduced sensor prices to $200."
The domestic car will not have difficulty with range thanks to a generator that will become active when necessary. Also, the car's electric engines will be powered by an advanced battery.
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