The Romanian car market registered a 22% increase in the first eight months of the year, as compared to the same period in 2017, the total volume of car deliveries reaching 119,093 units, according to the figures released on Friday by the Association of Automobile Manufacturers and Importers (APIA).
APIA representatives mention that this is the largest volume of car sales registered in the first eight months in the past 10 years, as in 2009, the first year of economic recession, when only 103,592 traded units were registered.
According to the sectoral analysis, 100,354 units were passenger cars (up by 24.2% against 2017) and 18,739 commercial vehicles (+11.7%).
In the standings by brand, Dacia leads with 32,889 units sold, followed by Volkswagen – 11,606 units, Ford – 9,097 units, Skoda – 8,950 units and Renault – 8,795 units.
APIA informs that on top position is Dacia Logan with 12,035 units sold, followed by Dacia Duster – 8,045 units and Dacia Sandero – 6,406 units.
Depending on the type of fuel, gasoline-powered cars continue to be the majority, reaching, after the first 8 months of 2018, 59.4% of the total, significantly higher (by 8.3 percentage points) as compared to their share in the same period in 2017, respectively 51.1%.
In the case of electric and hybrid cars, the statistical figures show a share of 2.6% in total sales, higher than the level of 1.9% last year. Within this margin, sales of electric cars increased by 214% to 587 and hybrids by 53.6% to 2,048 units.
At national level, vehicle purchases were mainly made by legal entities, covering 64% of the total in the first eight months, but the number of cars purchased by individuals (36,066 units) is about by 26 % higher than the same period last year, the APIA communiqué reads.
On the other hand, in August 2018, the sales of used cars decreased by 12% as compared to the same month of the previous year. During the first eight months of this year, the total number of second-hand cars registered in Romania reached 312,368 units, by 7.5% lower than during the same interval in 2017.