TURKEY AS A MARKET.
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A Country where British Goods have an Excellent Name and which is Worth Consideration as a Purchaser of Commercial Motors.
HOW many British motor manufacturers ever give so much as a passing thought to Turkey as a possible market for their productions Turkey, however, is a country offering considerable possibilities at the present moment. The poverty of the railway system in itself suggests an opportunity for motor development, for, although the country is destitute of proper roads, modern motor vehicles are able to cope with most kinds of had ground. Constantinople itself presents an interesting field for the exporter. The city, with its immediate suburbs, contains over two million inhabitants, and, owing to the formation of the laud, it covers a very large area.
Apart from a few lines of electric trams which serve the main arteries, and the Metropolitan, which unites the Pera and Galata districts, public transport facilities are absolutely non-existent. Incidentally, the trams are usually so crowded that they can only be reached after a sort of rough-and-tumble fight. Cabs there are, of course, but the fantastic and varying prices charged by the cabmen put this means of transport beyond reach of all except American tourists.
Before the war motor vehicles were regarded entirely as luxury articles in Constantinople, and the number registered in the city was unimportant, as compared with the figures for other European capitals. The cars to be seen in those days we're of varied origin, mostly Freneli,German or Austrian, with a sprinkling of Italian, Americanand Britishvehicles.
After the Armistice, and subsequent occupation of Constantinople, the number 'of vehicles increased considerably., The German and Austrian armies leftlorries and cars behind, and the Allied troops sold out many lorries and other motor vehicles at the end of the Period of occupation. So soon as Conditions became normal, the American exporter descended upon the city like the Persian of old, his cohorts gleaming with leather cloth and incredible quantities of black enamel.
Success Rewards European Enterprise.
One particular make of European car has stood firm amidst the tide of invasion. This is the Fiat. The Fiat Co., of Turin, possesses a branch in Turkey upon which heavy capital expenditure has been made. A huge garage has been erected, to which are attached a wellequipped machine shop and a body-building works. A large stock of spare parts for all models is carried, and, as a result of this concentration upon the market, Fiat vehicles have obtained a real success in Turkey.
During 1924 no fewer than 60 motor fire-engines were sold in Constantinople and the provinces. In addition, 150 Fiat chassis of various types were sold during the year. A permanent exhibition of all the many and varied types of this make of vehicle is made at the depot, and this, perhaps more than anything else, accounts for the good business done by the company in Turkey. The Turkish buyer gets immediate delivery of any particular vehicle he may require and is assured of a splendid after-sales service.
There is a good demand in Turkey for the light delivery vehicle of the French camionette type. One French firm (Berliet, of Lyons) has sold 150 camionettes in Constantinople during the past two years. Amongst American vehicles, Ford, Buick, Studebaker, Chevrolet, Overland and Cadillac all find a market, but, apart from the Ford, which is, of course, always in a class by itself, Buick vehicles appear to be by far the hest sellers.
There is very little doubt that Constantinople is destined in the future to become an import market worthy of serious consideration. So soon as ever the public authorities make a real effort towards the repair of the appalling roads and the construction of new ones, there should be a genuine motor boom in the country. A sign of the times is the recent creation of a Turkish Touring Club in Constantinople. At present the club is a very modest affair, but, should it succeed in persuading the authorities to do something about the roads, it will have an important future.
Why Not the British Vehicle ?
There are, at the moment, only a little over 2,000 motor vehicles circulating in Turkey. The makes most favoured are, in order of precedence :--lst, Ford ; 2nd, Fiat ; 3rd, Berliet; 4th, Buick ; 5th, Studebaker ; 6th, Benz. Some 25 or 30 other makes are to be found, but each is represented by only a few vehicles. "Why should not the British commercial vehicle seek an opening in Turkey? Motor vehicles intended for industrial or agricultural purposes are allowed into the country absolutely free of duty.
There is no prejudice against British goods; on the contrary, their sterling qualities are remembered from the days before the war, whilst, so far as mere sentiment is concerned, Briton and Turk have feelings of mutual respect. Each has found the other a good friend in peace and a brave and chivalrous enemy in war.
The following details as to vehicles required in Turkey are supplied by the French National Export Office:—
For town use, light delivery vehicles and touring cars of standard types are satisfactory, but specially lowbuilt chassis are quite unsuitable. For the country in general the colonial type of chassis is by far the best for all vehicles. There are 2,010 kiloms. of " roads " in Anatolia, but at present only 690 kiloms. are in reasonable condition.
It is reported that Essad Paeha, the present governor of Constantinople, has just authorized the organization of a motor omnibus enterprise in that city. A company is to be formed with British capital for this purpose, and it is hoped to commence operations shortly with a fleet of 150 vehicles.