In the first seven months, 177,685 cars were sold, up 22.4 percent compared to the 145,154 units sold in the same period last year. The sale of commercial vehicles also rose by 28.8 percent, to 27,095 from 21,042 units. Total car sales amount to 206,089 units, up 23.3 percent from the 167,126 units sold in the same period last year. July sales increased by 3.1 percent compared to the 35,995 units sold in June.
APIA reports that 143,651 units were produced domestically in these seven months, 10.9 percent higher than the 129,000 cars produced in the same period in 2006. Exports also rose by 42.8 percent, to 69,457 units, while in the same period last year Romanian producers exported only 48,636 units, reads APIA’s statistical report.
January-July 2007 registered a 55 percent increase in imports, to 132,650 cars from 85,594 units in 2006. Romanians bought 297,162 cars last year, including commercial vehicles, 15.9 percent more than in 2005, when they bought 256,000 cars. The sale of new imported cars rose by 53.3 percent in the first seven months, to some 109,000 units, while domestic brands registered a 7 percent drop, according to APIA data.
Dacia and Daewoo sold 68,878 cars, 7.1 percent less than the 74,000 units sold in the first seven months in 2006. However, Dacia still holds first place in terms of best sellers, with 58,037 units sold, and a 30.3 percent market share, of which Daewoo had a mere 5.3 percent. Daewoo sales dropped by 22 percent to 10,879 units. Domestic brands account for 39 percent of the 177,685 cars that were sold so far this year, with the remaining 61 percent imported cars.
