Economic crisis and production–export 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. Th is study examines how crisis conditions aff ect 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 ex-port turnover is analyzed using fi xed- and random-eff ects models. Th e Hausman test indicates that the fi xed-eff ects specifi cation is most appropriate, suggesting that countryspecifi c characteristics play a signifi -cant role in shaping production dynamics.Results: Th e fi ndings reveal that, while production–export linkages remain statistically signifi cant across countries, the magnitude and persistence of crisis impact vary depending on national production scale, institutional capacity, and structural conditions.Th e results further indicate that countries with higher production and export volumes experience stronger fl uctuations during crisis periods, whereas countries with smaller production bases tend to display more moderate adjustments.Conclusion: Th e study provides comparative empirical evidence on how national automotive systems re-spond to systemic economic disruptions and highlights the importance of structural diff erences in shaping crisis outcomes across countries.