In November 2025 the German-Turkish Automotive Summit convened for the first time — in Berlin, with decision-makers from industry, politics and academia in both countries.
What began as an attempt to take the measure of a partnership more than forty years in the making turned into an agenda in the course of a single day. On stage were electric mobility, digitalisation and the question of where Europe will produce in future — not as declarations of intent, but along concrete supply chains, sites and timelines.
The press coverage carried the tone of the day further. Automobilwoche called Türkiye the most exciting territory for the car industry; Herbert Diess, who was on stage in Berlin, went on to credit the country with a higher speed of innovation than Germany. That Germany is at the same time the largest buyer of the Turkish automotive industry was less a punchline than a starting point.
What remains is a format that brings both sides to one table without smoothing the differences away. 2026 continues what 2025 began.
