Turkey touts first domestic EV as 'smart device'

Turkey's new domestic automaker, TOGG, is touting its first car as a "smart device" because it's packed with connectivity features.

TOGG will begin taking pre-orders for the battery-electric SUV this month.

The vehicle has been developed as part of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's national car project and exports to Europe are planned to begin next year.

All T10X models have a 12-inch digital instrument display as standard. They also have a 29-inch smart touchscreen and an on-board camera that can take selfies by voice command and upload them to social media platforms without the driver having to take their hands off the wheel.

In addition to adaptive cruise control, the vehicle will in future have a "rush-hour pilot" function that will enable it to drive in heavy traffic at speeds of up to 15 kph without the driver's hands on the wheel.

This feature will be activated this year via over-the-air updates on V2-equipped variants.

TOGG will decide on the first buyers by lottery.

Prospective buyers can pre-order the T10X in an app. If the number of orders then exceeds the number of available vehicles, a draw will be held to determine who receives a vehicle.

TOGG does not yet have a sales infrastructure beyond the app. A Togg spokesperson said the vehicles ordered will be delivered directly to customers, with shipping due to start in April.

The T10X has been designed to achieve Euro NCAP's top rating of five stars.

Prices for the entry-level, 218-hp rear-wheel-drive T10X start at 953,000 Turkish lira (47,500 euros) including taxes. This puts the T10X at about the same price as the VW ID4 or Tesla Model Y.

A more powerful version with all-wheel drive will be available in Turkey from the end of October.

The T10X will be available in two variants: The entry-level V1 and the better-equipped V2.

Customers can choose between a 52.4-kilowatt-hour battery that provides a range of 314 km, according to WLTP testing, or the V2 that has an 88.5 kWh battery and a 523 km range.

The battery can be charged from 20 percent to 80 percent in 30 minutes on a fast charger.

TOGG plans to roll out the SUV to European markets starting at the end of next year. Germany will probably be the most important expansion market, the spokesperson said.

TOGG already has a first foothold in Germany: In Stuttgart, the company operates TOGG Europe GmbH, whose purpose is "the development, manufacture and trade of electric vehicles."

TOGG plans to build around 20,000 cars this year at a new factory near Istanbul, with annual production of five different body types scheduled to rise to 1 million cars by 2030.

TOGG was championed by President Erdogan to highlight the country's tech prowess and help reduce its trade deficit.

Turkey is already a big exporter to Europe of cars and vans built in the country by automakers including Ford, Stellantis, Renault, Toyota and Hyundai.