Toyota Romania, the Japanese carmaker's general importer, expects to reach turnover worth above 100m euros this year, up around 30% year-on-year.

"We will come to sell 6,000 cars this year, up 50% from the previous year," says Mihai Bordeanu, marketing manager with Toyota Romania.

In the first nine months of this year, the company sold almost 4,000 vehicles, of which 3,600 cars and 390 utility vehicles.

This year's rising sales were registered amid the expansion of the dealer network and the launch of the new showroom in Pipera Tunari, Bordeanu believes.

The company has recently finalised a 5 million euros investment in an integrated centre-Toyota Bucharest North, including two showrooms, a car servicing centre and a warehouse, on an area of 11,000 square metres.

"We also have a showroom dedicated to the Lexus luxury brand here, to single out the product. This strategy was recommended to us by Toyota Europe as a way to promote the luxury segment," adds Bordeanu. Toyota Romania has delivered 35 Lexus cars this year.

The growth of the company's sales primarily relies on the small class Yaris model, accounting for approximately 20% in the overall volume of cars sold in Romania. In terms of sales, Yaris is followed by the Corolla model, with more than 800 units delivered in the first three quarters.

This year's sales growth will also be triggered by the launch of a new generation of the RAV4 model and of the mini Aygo model, of which more than 100 units were sold.

According to Bordeanu, as part of its medium and long-term strategy, the company also plans to open centres or showrooms in high-potential cities such as Constanta, Cluj or Brasov.

The importer's current network of dealers includes 15 partners, with more than 20 showrooms in Bucharest and other major cities.

The car import market in the first three qua