Porsche Romania aims to sell more than 60,000 cars in 2007

Earlier this month, the company lifted its sales target for 2007 to 53,000 cars, from the 43,000 units previously forecast, because of good results in the first few months of the year.

"Given the current market evolution, we will definitely be able to sell 50 percent more cars than last year. Last year we sold 45,000 cars, and this year sales will exceed 60,000," Porsche Romania General Manager, Alin Tapalaga, told Business Standard.

He bases his estimates on the number of cars in Romania, which is still low, compared to other European countries. "In Western [Europe], there is one car for every two people, compared to one car for every seven people in Romania," Tapalaga said.

In the first half of 2007, Porsche Romania sold 26,544 cars, a 38 percent year-on-year increase. The bestseller was the Czech Skoda brand, with 11,347 units sold, 28 percent more than in the first semester in 2006.

Porsche Romania also sells Volkswagen, Seat, and Audi. The company is currently investing €15 million in a new showroom in northern Bucharest, where it will display luxury Bentley and Lamborghini brands. Construction will begin next year and is scheduled to be concluded in twelve months.  Porsche Romania posted €750 million in net sales in 2006, from €561 million in 2005. The company's net profit amounted to €62.6 million, a 27 percent increase year-on-year. Last year, Romania became the major Eastern and Central European market for new cars, with sales exceeding 225,000 units. Poland ranks second, with 239,038 cars sold, according to data provided by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (EAMA). Hungary ranks third, with 193,462 cars.