While the electromobility sector continues to become increasingly competitive, more niche brands are struggling to make their mark. Such is the case of Turkish carmaker TOGG. So, to make a splash, the brand presented its brand new model to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at an official ceremony.
The high-profile event took place in Istanbul on 13 September 2025, at the Dolmabahçe Palace. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a fervent supporter of the TOGG project since its inception, was handed the keys to a T10F model. The latter, adorned with a red presidential plaque, is a 100% electric fastback designed and assembled in Turkey.
In front of the cameras and government representatives, the Head of State hailed « a historic step for national industry ».
This handover of the vehicle immediately sparked a flood of comment in the Turkish and international press: would Erdoğan now be driving exclusively in this national, electric vehicle? Nothing has been confirmed to date. But several clues suggest that this will be the case:
- At the official handover to Erdoğan, the T10F was held at Dolmabahçe Palace, a highly symbolic venue used for important state announcements.
- The event was covered by the public media (TRT, Anadolu Agency) and relayed by presidential communications, a rare occurrence for a simple industrial launch.
- In the official images, the car bears a red presidential plate with the golden 16-star emblem, usually reserved for vehicles in the motorcade.
All these clues suggest that this new version from the Turkish manufacturer is not just an industrial gift, but a vehicle destined to feature in the presidential fleet.
A vehicle full of promise
The vehicle in question, the TOGG T10F, is fitted with a 52.4 kWh battery with a range of 335 km in its standard version or 88.5 kWh for a range of 623 km in its long-range version. It takes 28 minutes to go from 20% to 80% battery. As for the powertrain, here too the Turkish brand is giving its customers a choice. The engine is the same for both the standard and long-range versions: 160 kW (218 bhp) for a 0 to 100 time of 7.2 seconds and a top speed of 172 km/h. And when you think of an electric car, you think of speed and responsiveness. That’s why the T10F is available in a sports version (AWD). Equipped with the same battery as the long-range version, its 320 kW motor develops 435 bhp and accelerates to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds.
In terms of equipment, it has nothing to envy of its internationally-renowned counterparts: sleek, futuristic design, an interior featuring a large panoramic touchscreen, a locally-developed operating system and full connectivity. Features that have earned the brand five stars in Euro NCAP tests. The brand is delighted with this certification, which is a sign of seriousness, placing the saloon in the big league alongside European and Asian manufacturers.
The T10F has been available for pre-order in Turkey and Germany since the end of last month, with prices starting at €34,300 for the standard version and around €50,000 for the top-of-the-range version.
TOGG, betting on industrial independence
Founded in 2018 at the instigation of the Turkish government, TOGG (Türkiye’nin Otomobili Girişim Grubu) was created by a consortium of several major national industrial groups, including Anadolu Group and Turkcell. The stated aim is very clear: to create a brand capable of competing with Tesla, BYD and Renault, while promoting « Made in Türkiye ».
And to remain true to its ambitions, in 2022 the manufacturer inaugurated its ultra-modern plant at Gemlik, where the T10X and now the T10F models are produced.
In the space of just a few years, TOGG has become a symbol of national pride, because the brand does not limit itself to car production. It innovates in the fields of EV batteries, recharging infrastructure and digital software for its vehicles. This diversity of technological activities has enabled the company to position itself as a regional industrial and technological hub.
Politics as ambassador
Inevitably, for a national brand, what better ambassador than its ultra-mediatised president? President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 71, confided his pride and joy to a crowd of journalists after taking the car for a spin to check out the little toy on offer.
Presenting a vehicle in this very solemn setting demonstrates the President’s commitment to his country’s industries. Turkey’s head of communications, Burhanettin Duran, was also on hand, and Erdoğan’s reaction was not long in coming. He took to his Twitter account to add another layer of communication.
He’s not the first political leader to show off an electric vehicle in public. In France, Emmanuel Macron recently received the new DS N°8 Présidentielle. This is a unique example made available to the Presidency before the commercial launch.
These are major communication initiatives that highlight national innovations, in this case a locally-built vehicle. The aim is not only to enable these companies to compete with the world leaders, but also to enable the public to discover mobility solutions in the run-up to the European restrictions that will come into force in 2035.
