Dealers can estimate the car market evolution for one month at most

“Things are very complicated at the moment. It is difficult, if not impossible to presently make any forecasts for several weeks. A forecast for a few months is out of the question,” said Marius Cocu, Marketing Manager of Hyundai Auto Romania.

“We cannot say how much we will produce and sell in 2009, because we cannot see two-three weeks ahead at the moment. However, I do not think that we will witness a market revival before March 2009, followed by inertia, so it could be worse than in 2008,” said Constantin Stroe, Vice President of Automobile Dacia and President of the Association of Automotive Manufacturers of Romania (ACAROM).

Officials of Porsche Romania are more optimistic, saying that they can make sales forecasts for up to one month. “December is as bad as November anyway. Even if sales continue to drop in December, we have anticipated this,” said Alin Tapalaga, General Manager of Porsche Inter Auto, Porsche Romania’s retail division.

The Romanian auto market contracted by 30 percent in October 2008 year-on-year, dropping by over 50 percent in November.