Economic Crisis and Dynamics in the Automotive Industry: A Comparative Panel Analysis of Türkiye and Selected Eu Countries

Abstract

Purpose: Economic crises introduce structural disturbances that disrupt established economic balances within industrial systems, generating diverse responses across countries and sectors. This study examines how crisis conditions affect production-export dynamics in the automotive industry by comparing Türkiye and selected European Union countries over the 2014-2023 period. Methodology: Using balanced panel data, the empirical relationship between production volume and export turnover is analyzed using fixed-and random-effects models. The Hausman test indicates that the fixed-effects specification is most appropriate, suggesting that countryspecific characteristics play a signifi-cant role in shaping production dynamics. Results: The findings reveal that, while production-export linkages remain statistically significant across countries, the magnitude and persistence of crisis impact vary depending on national production scale, institutional capacity, and structural conditions. The results further indicate that countries with higher production and export volumes experience stronger fluctuations during crisis periods, whereas countries with smaller production bases tend to display more moderate adjustments. Conclusion: The study provides comparative empirical evidence on how national automotive systems respond to systemic economic disruptions and highlights the importance of structural differences in shaping crisis outcomes across countries.