2009 sales of new cars plummeted 54% to their lowest level since 2003 to 147,962 cars from 324,033 units a year earlier, according to data provided by the Association of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (APIA).
For 2010, APIA expects 130,000 new vehicle registrations in 2010, of which 115,000 for new passenger cars.
In 2009, passenger car sales fell 52% last year, to 130,193 from 270,899 new registrations a year earlier. Sales in December alone were down by 36% to 8,262 units.
Production output rose last year in Romania by 21% to 296,498 cars. In 2009, the biggest production output growth was recorded in December (+473%, 21,513 vehicles), April (+103%, 28,691) and November (+86%, 26,346 units). Output fell 64% in January (8,775 units), 26% in February (16,161 units) and August when no car came off the assembly line.
Car exports jumped 66% in the trailing year to 258,893 vehicles. In December 2009, passenger car exports rose 446% to 19,190. Exports fell in January (-36%), February (-0.4%) and August (-65%).
Romania imported only 105,960 cars last year, 54% less than a year earlier. Imported car sales fell 52% to 91,457 cars.
Best selling imported cars in 2009 have been Hyundai (10,798), Volkswagen (9,441) and Renault (8,934). In 2008, the best selling cars were Skoda (23,064 units), Volkswagen (20,641 units) and Renault (19,328).
In 2009, Hyundai had 8.3% share in imported car market, Volkswagen took 7.3%, Renault 6.9%, Skoda 6.8% and Ford 6.7%.
