Turkish EV producer Togg partners with Chinese giant

Turkish electric vehicle maker Togg has struck a deal with a unit of the world’s biggest battery producer to develop a range of small passenger vehicles for domestic and export markets.

Togg’s tie-up with Chinese company Contemporary Amperex Intelligent Technology (CAIT) means it will base the new vehicles on an integrated chassis and power unit developed by its new partner.

Under the agreement, CAIT will provide the platform technology, while Togg will develop the range to meet specific market requirements.

Togg is expanding its partnerships beyond classic supply relationships, chairman Fuat Tosyalı said when announcing the deal with CAIT, a subsidiary of battery producer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Limited, on May 7.

“By being part of the entire development process instead of a ready-made solution, we better meet the needs of our users while also contributing to the growth of this ecosystem in our country,” he said.

The first units of the new range are expected to roll off production lines by mid-2027, with initial sales destined for the domestic market.

The Togg-CAIT tie-up will bring both advantages and a downside for the Turkish car industry, according to Anıl Şentürk, chair of the automotive committee of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce.

“In the short and medium term, the advantages for Togg are high,” he told AGBI.

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“Lower costs, shorter charging times, improved travel range, safety, better speeds, while mass production brings down domestic prices. These batteries also have a longer lifetime, which will impact second-hand sales that are falling behind in EVs.”

Offsetting this is a lack of technical development flowing into the domestic industry, Şentürk said.

“In the long term, it means you are not producing yourself, not building your own know-how and production industry, which may be seen as a disadvantage. There could be a slowdown in innovation.”