DOMESTIC CAR PRODUCTION RESUMES
A new initiative has emerged to rewrite the unfinished story of automobile production in Eskişehir. Urzat Automotive will manufacture internal combustion and electric models of two Chinese brands, SWM and JAC. The first vehicle will roll off the production line in September, while the other model is scheduled to begin production toward the end of the year.
The story begins anew in Eskişehir. As one of Türkiye’s most important industrial cities and a city with a trade surplus, Eskişehir is witnessing a breakthrough that will revive its unfinished automotive manufacturing legacy. Urzat Automotive will produce internal combustion and electric models for two Chinese brands, SWM and JAC. The first vehicle will roll off the production line in September, while the other will enter production toward the end of the year.
Türkiye’s Strategic Importance Influenced Our Decision
ATMO Group CEO Anton Chernov: “We will start the project with the production of internal combustion vehicles; however, we plan to achieve at least a 50% market share in electric and hybrid models. Of course, our future product range will depend on the government’s taxation strategies, but we also plan to include light commercial vehicles, M1 and N1 versions, as well as the motorcycle segment. As you know, Chinese brands currently dominate the automotive industry with their technology and advanced distribution networks. Through the Urzat project, we aim to shift this power center to where we have started — Eskişehir.”
We Will Reach 30 Dealerships by the End of the Year
SWM and JAC Türkiye Commercial Operations Director Burak Azmanoğlu: “In 2026, we will include our G03F model in local production, and by 2027, we will add another MPV model to the production line. JAC models are also starting production in Eskişehir. The first locally produced model will be the E30X, and production will begin by the end of the year. In addition, we currently have seven service centers and have signed dealership agreements with 17 sales points. Our goal is to reach 30 dealerships by the end of the year. In terms of customer satisfaction, we have planned a 95% spare parts availability rate.”
JAC E30X Specifications
- Consumes 10 kWh of energy per 100 km with 134 HP power output.
- Offers up to 400 km of city range with a 51.5 kWh LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery.
- Supports fast charging in just 30 minutes.
- Features advanced Safety and Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), including a 360-Degree Surround View Camera.
The land where the story of the ‘Devrim’ automobile began is preparing, 64 years later, to produce cars once again. A Turkish, Russian, and Chinese partnership has united in Eskişehir to manufacture a domestic automobile. With the engineering expertise of Turkish firm Urzema Holding and the commercial experience of Russian company ATMO, two Chinese automotive brands, SWM and JAC, will produce their models in Türkiye.
Through Urzat Otomotiv A.Ş., production will take place at the factory located in the Eskişehir Organized Industrial Zone (OIZ). The first model, the SWM G01 PRO, will roll off the production line in September 2025 with an initial localization rate of around 20%. By the end of the year, production of the fully electric JAC E30X will also begin.
Another Domestic Electric Model
In previous years, JAC sold commercial vehicles in Türkiye through a distributor and has been operating since 1964. Exporting to more than 130 countries, JAC manufactures sedans, hatchbacks, SUVs, as well as light commercial vehicles, trucks, buses, and minibuses. With its first model to appear on Turkish roads — the compact city car E30X — JAC will become one of the brands producing electric passenger cars locally. Equipped with a 51.5 kWh LFP battery, the model offers a combined range of 374 km and up to 400 km in city driving. Compared to its competitors, it provides 15% more range and enters the market at a price approximately 20% more affordable.
More Models and Higher Production Ahead
Urzema Holding CEO Murat Ertaş: “Someone truly needs to complete the unfinished story that began with Devrim in Eskişehir. We have an ongoing allocation of 1 million square meters within Eskişehir OIZ that is still under expropriation. Over the next two years, we will begin production with a capacity of approximately 20,000 vehicles. Meanwhile, during Phase 2 — between 2027 and 2029 — we will move into a larger production facility, increasing both the number of models and total production to 40,000 vehicles. We are not establishing a simple assembly workshop here. Our goal is to raise the localization rate from 25–30% in 2026 to around 40% by 2027.”
Investment Without Incentives
“Within the next four years, even if it may seem impossible today, our goal is to achieve a localization rate above 51%. We want the vehicles produced through the labor of so many people in this country to be exported and used around the world as Turkish-made products. While many international corporations hesitate to invest in Türkiye today, Chinese investors — with the right partners — did not shy away from doing so. Moreover, they did it without receiving any government incentives or support. We decided to carry out this project using our own equity and available resources, and for us, that makes it far more valuable and meaningful.”
