The auto market could drop by one third in 2009

The highest demand for new cars in the history of the local market was registered in 2007, of 370,000 units, up 23 percent year-on-year.

 

The international financial crisis “has a significant emotional side, so sales are unlikely to pick up before March,” Constantin Stroe, Vice President of Automobile Dacia, told Business Standard.

 

Stroe indicated that measures taken by the government (raising the auto tax for old cars, eliminating the tax for new cars, and raising the trade-in value) are “exceptional measures,” which will fuel demand.

 

“Lately, we have not made long-term development plans, as it is very difficult to make estimates. Considering the evolution of sales in the past few months, 230,000 units for 2009 sounds plausible,” said Alin Tapalaga, General Manager of Porsche Inter Auto, the retail division of Porsche Romania.