Car market increased 42% in January

Furthermore, January is usually the month with the lowest sales for the whole year. Officials in the industry also feared that changes and uncertainty regarding a controversial car registration fee could lead to a plunge in sales, in spite of better access to financing for clients.

Demand was boosted especially by the imported car segment, which registered 49.3 percent growth in January.

Dacia is the best-selling brand in Romania, with 6,370 units sold in January and a 27.3 percent market share. Skoda ranks second, with 1,963 units and an 8.4 percent share of the market, while Renault ranks third, with 1,849 units sold and 7.9 percent in market share.

Last year, new car sales rose 23.4 percent compared to 2006, up to 366,819 units.