The domestic and national car of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus “Günsel” was launched with a magnificent organization held at the Kyrenia Elexus Congress Center. The first model of Günsel, produced by Turkish engineers and designers lasting over 10 years of labor and 1.2 million hours of labor within the body of Near East University R&D Center, was produced in yellow, blue and red colors symbolizing the soil, sky and flag of TRNC. The design and interior designs of Günsel B9 were highly appreciated.
Prime Minister Ersin Tatar, 3rd President Dr. Dervis Eroğlu, the Republic of Turkey Ambassador in Nicosia, Ali Murat Başçeri, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay, Minister of Education and Culture Nazım Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Finance Olgun Amcaoğlu, Minister of Interior Affairs Ayşegül Baybars Kadri, Minister of Public Works, Transportation and Communication Tolga Atakan, Minister of Economy and Energy Hasan Taçoy, Minister of Tourism and Environment Dt. Ünal Üstel, Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources Dursun Oğuz, Minister of Labor and Social Security Dr. Faiz Sucuoğlu, main opposition party leader and Chair of Republican Turkish Party Tufan Erhürman, Turkish Cypriot Peace Corps Commander Major General Sezai Öztürk, Security Forces Commander Brigadier Commander Altan Er and Vice President of the Republican Assembly Zorlu Töre, and approximately 3 thousand guests from Turkey and abroad participated in the launching night of GÜNSEL.
Near East University, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel: “The dream of our father, Dr. Suat Günsel’s dream has turned into reality through working day-and-night, as one soul, one heart, with great faith and dedication.”
Near East University, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel in his opening remarks at the launch ceremony of GÜNSEL said, “We are proud and delighted to witness at this moment that the dream of our father Dr. Suat Günsel, the domestic and national car of our country, GÜNSEL, which was created by Turkish engineers after a research and design process lasting 10 years, has found life. GÜNSEL was created from design to R&D, from technology to engineering by our R&D and engineering teams working all together as one body, one heart, with great faith and dedication and through a labor continuing day-and-night. We have the honor, pride, and happiness of being able to share GÜNSEL with you, our nation, our homeland, and to introduce it to the world in an emphatic way.”
Stating that the realization of a big project like GÜNSEL is one of the most valuable indicators of Near East University’s power of science production, Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel said, “Near East University and Kyrenia University have become the largest and most developed universities in the geography and have taken their place among the respected universities in the world. Having a strong technological infrastructure and academic equipment, nearly two thousand articles are published in international journals per year and 385 projects are currently underway.”
The production capacity of GÜNSEL, of which serial production will start in 2021, will reach 20 thousand vehicles annually by 2025. On the night of the launch of Günsel’s first model B9, the promotional model of the second model of GÜNSEL, J9, which has been kept secret until today, was presented to the guests. The development and prototype promotion process of the J9, which is designed as an SUV, is planned to be completed in 2022 . In the presentation of Near East University Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel, it was stated that the mass production of the second model J9 model will start in 2024.
The fact that Günsel will turn the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus into one of the automobile exporter countries will create a big leap for the country’s economy. On the one hand, GÜNSEL will provide a large amount of export income to TRNC with the cars it will export abroad, and fuel savings by Günsel, which will be used domestically, will greatly reduce the amount of imported fuel. For this reason, Günsel has the potential to greatly reduce the foreign trade deficit by making a bi-directional contribution to the TRNC economy. The export income it will generate, the economy to be established by the automotive supplier industry and the employment opportunities will make Günsel one of the most important locomotives of the TRNC economy.
Prime Minister Ersin Tatar: “As the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, we have raised great names and great heroes. Everyone should acknowledge that Suat Günsel, who has been working for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus since the days of national struggle, is one of these heroes. There are a lot of problems for our Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean region. The success story signed here has embarrassed negative speakers. Because we are successful, we are the successful children of a successful nation, which embraces its country, believes in perfection and has talent. Here is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus! Today we witness history. Günsel will make a great contribution to our country’s exports, employment, economy and development. I would like to thank the Günsel Family who has made this great success.”
3rd President of the TRNC Dr. Derviş Eroğlu: “We laid the foundation of the Near East University with Suat Günsel during my prime ministry period. Since that day, so much ground has been laid by Suat Günsel and his family that we have forgotten the number. Suat Günsel has pursued the best in every project from university to hospital. Günsel Family can only be proud of the projects in which the signature has increased. May your success be permanent.”
Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Nicosia, Ali Murat Başçeri: “The world automotive market is at a new crossroads. As President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said at the launch ceremony of Turkey’s domestic car TOGG on December 27, everyone entering this race is under equal conditions now. Günsel, created by Near East University, will create an important example of technology development, R&D, and industrial projects for all our universities. I sincerely thank all the dedicated people who contributed.”
Republican Turkish Party Chairman Tufan Erhürman; “Today we are witnessing a dream coming true here. I present my gratitude to those who have a share in this pride. Visiting the production facilities, I saw young engineers working and fulfilling their duties excitedly. I thank all of them. We always say that the producer does not disappear. Günsel Family continues to implement projects regarded as impossible. I congratulate the whole family wholeheartedly for their success.”
Kudret Özersay, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs: “The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and its people need more than one success story. Günsel is also an important inspirational success story. On behalf of our state, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this success story, especially the Günsel Family. Such an investment requires a great vision. Together with Günsel, they showed how big the visions of Günsel Family and Near East University are.”
Hasan Taçoy, Minister of Economy and Energy: “Günsel is a big project for our country’s economy that we have to believe and protect until the end. Suat Günsel and his family, who have brought very important values to our country so far, has brought great value to our country by dreaming and working hard to realize this dream. The world is changing. Therefore, we must protect this project, which we have witnessed from the very beginning, starting as a dream and coming to life finally.”
Minister of Labor and Social Security Faiz Sucuoğlu: “When I was chatting with my teacher, Suat Günsel, years ago, he told me that one day he would produce a car. When I told him that it wasn’t easy, he said he would make his dreams come true. Here we are witnessing the realization of this dream. Günsel’s story, which started with 10 engineers and is continuing with 100 engineers today, will reach thousands of engineers in the coming years. Günsel will pave the way for us to keep our youth in the country with the employment opportunities it will create by contributing to reducing the youth unemployment rate, which has reached 19 percent in our country today.”
GÜNSEL WITH FIGURES
Günsel’s first model B9 is a 100 percent electric car. The vehicle, which can travel 350 kilometers on a single charge, was produced by combining 10 thousand 936 parts in total. The engine of the vehicle is 140 kW. The speed limit of Günsel B9, which can reach 100 km per hour in 8 seconds, is electronically limited to 170 km per hour. Günsel B9’s battery can be charged in only 20 minutes with high-speed charging. If standard charging is used, this time is 7 hours. In the development process, cooperation agreements have been signed with over 800 suppliers from 28 countries for the production of Günsel B9, where over 100 engineers spend 1.2 million hours. Electric cars are increasing their potential of use in the world automotive market every year. The number of electric cars sold in the world in 2018 was 2 million. Electric car sales, which are expected to reach 10 million in 2025, are expected to reach 28 million in 2030 and 56 million in 2040. Electric cars will seize 57 percent of the automotive market in 2040.
