2 Billion Dollars Service Export Revenue

Hidayet Yıldırım stated that with a fleet of nearly one million vehicles, they generate service export revenues of USD 2 billion annually, and added that the sector will receive incentives and resources to further increase its export revenues once it is officially recognised as a service exporter.

Hidayet Yıldırım, Chairman of the Board of Directors of HDY Group of Companies operating in the car rental sector, said that they have taken an initiative to include the car rental service sector under a separate heading within the scope of service exports.

Hidayet Yıldırım, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) Vehicle Rental and Related Services Committee, said, “We held a meeting with Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat, our Minister of Trade, where we shared our thoughts and studies about service exports, which are of great importance for the development of our sector, and the necessity and introduction of the regulation for our sector.” Yıldırım, a 43-year-old businessman from Iğdır who organized a chat meeting with a group of journalists last week, reported that the sector, which reaches 100 percent occupancy especially in the summer season and mainly serves tourists, provides 2 billion dollars in service export revenue with nearly one million vehicles. Stating that HIB President and ITO President Şekib Avdagiç also supports the representation of the sector under the roof of the Service Exporters Association (HİB), Yıldırım said, “Financing costs are high. If we are in that scope, we will reach Eximbank resources and foreign currency loans. 2 billion dollars of revenue will increase over time.”

Preventing theft of rental vehicles

Stating that they have ensured the implementation of a regulation that will prevent the theft of rental vehicles thanks to their previous work within ITO, Yıldırım said, “A problem that could not be solved for 6 years has been solved thanks to the support of our Deputy Minister of Interior Bülent Turan” and explained how the vehicles were stolen: “Maybe tens of thousands of such vehicles have been stolen and destroyed. They rent the vehicle. Then they take it and smash it. Thanks to the police, it was determined: one person stole 80 such vehicles. It usually happens in daily rentals. There was no penalty for this. The General Directorate of Security has the Rental Vehicle Notification System-KABIS system. Just like when you enter a hotel, your information goes to the police, it goes here when you rent a car. The rental vehicles in use appear here. Thanks to the notification from KABIS, if the person has a rental car, this can now be seen by us as well.”

Companies do not want to rent to the public

Stating that car rental companies do not want to rent vehicles to the public sector due to low prices and long-term contracts, Yıldırım shared the following information about the sector: “There is a saving in the country, partly due to prices. When you borrow with 50 percent, we are now giving the C segment vehicle, which we used to borrow with 12 percent, for 40 thousand liras. Prices have risen due to the increase in finance and slightly due to the increase in vehicle prices. We also give vehicles to the public sector. While the public used to want a vehicle with a maximum mileage of 10 thousand kilometers, now they are looking for 100-200 thousand vehicles. There is a saving. We have also included Togg in the fleet, and there are special requests from the public sector.”

Grew from 50 vehicles to 5 thousand vehicles

Hidayet Yıldırım, who entered the car rental business when the used car buying and selling business he took over from his father started to turn through digital channels, expanded the business he started with 50 vehicles in 2010 to 5 thousand vehicles. Stating that they have reached 15 branches, Yıldırım said that they are one of the car rental companies serving at Istanbul Airport.

“We operate as a company with 100 percent domestic capital, while there are companies from abroad that bring in companies from abroad and hang their signboards,” Yıldırım said, and continued his words as follows: “There are 25 companies serving at Istanbul Airport. There are 50 companies waiting at the gate for someone to exit so that we can enter. Among the top 6 car rental companies in Turkey, there is only one local company other than us.

There are 20 thousand car rental companies in Turkey. According to a study we conducted, there is a fleet of nearly one million rental vehicles. As a Turkish brand, we aim to expand globally. We will take the Turkish brand to Europe and the Middle East. We will visit Azerbaijan. We opened a branch in Igdir. When Zengezur is opened, Iğdır will be the exit gate. A free zone must be established

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