Car market to reach its growth potential in 10 years

 “Main reasons for the evolution of sales this year are the need for a renewal of rolling stock,

low degree of motorization (Ed. n.: number of cars per 1,000 inhabitants) and economic growth,” General Motors (GM) General Manager for Romania and Bulgaria, Alfred Suter, told Business Standard. Suter added that he expects a stagnation of sales at 370,000 units, but that this will reach its maximum yearly capacity of 500,000 within 5-10 years. The local branch of GM imports the Opel and Chevrolet brands.

Forecasts by the Automotive Manufacturers and Importers Association (APIA) indicate that the market will reach 340,000 units this year.

“Considering Romania’s population and the degree of motorization, I think Romania’s annual potential is some 500,000 cars, but this depends on the registration fee, whose elimination will affect sales of new cars,” according to Alin Tapalaga, General Manager at Porsche Romania, largest importer on the domestic market.

Romania became the major automobile market in Central and Eastern Europe in 2006, with second place going to Poland, with 239,038 registered cars, Hungary third, with 193,460, and the Czech Republic in fourth place, with only 124,000 car registrations.

“Main reasons for the evolution of sales this year are the need for a renewal of rolling stock, low degree of motorization and economic growth Alfred Suter General Manager for Romania, GM