Turkey makes its own car: automotive ventures and the cars of the revolution

This paper focuses on the history of Turkey's efforts to establish a national automotive industry, which culminated in a state-driven project to build a Turkish automobile, the Devrim (Revolution), in 1961. The outcome of the project was three prototypes unveiled in Republic Day ceremonies, but quickly left in oblivion afterwards. This paper investigates the possible causes of the termination of the project, arguing that building a Turkish car had great symbolic significance for the identity of a nation in the quest for modernization and Westernization. The project was difficult to sustain considering the vexed political and ideological motivations invested in it.

Automated summary

This paper focuses on the history of Turkey's efforts to establish a national automotive industry, investigates the possible causes of the termination of the project, and highlights the symbolic significance of building a Turkish car for the nation's identity and modernization.