New car registrations in Romania, “over European average”

New car registrations in Romania reached in January 2012 to 4,937 units from 2,648 in January 2011, the highest EU growth in percentage terms.

According to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, the European Union market fell by – 7.1%.

On the top brands, Dacia car registrations in Romania doubled compared to January last year, to 1,195 units, whilst Volkswagen increased approximately 2.6 fold, to 704 cars, Skoda has made an advance of 114%, from 442 entries, and Renault plus 80% to 276 cars.

The most significant growth as volume in the EU was registered in Poland, where new car registrations rose by 22%, from about 19,000 cars in January 2010 to over 24,000 in the first month of this year, according to the release of European Automobile Manufacturers Association( ACEA).

Germany, Europe’s largest market, declined 0.4% to 210,195 registrations, and France, the second market, in the EU had a steep decline of 20.7% to 147,057 units.

Italy, the third European market had a 16.9% decrease in the number of new car registrations in January at 137,119 units and statistics indicating stagnation in the UK, at about 128, 800 registrations.

In the constructors’ ranking, the only corporations that registered increases in January are Volkswagen( VW, Skoda, Audi, Seat) up 0.7% to 231,151 units, and Daimler ( Mercedes-Benz, Smart), with an advance of 4.6% to 47,469 registrations.

Volkswagen has kept its dominant position in the European automotive industry with a market share of 24%, while the rival , PSA Peugeot Citroen recorded in January a decrease of 15% to 121,480 units.

Renault, Dacia owner, maintained the third position, with a decline of 25.2% to 80,742 registrations , followed by Ford ( -4.2% , 80,212) , General Motors ( -14.2% , 71,787), Fiat ( - 16.2%, 67,980), BMW( -6.2%, 51,199), Daimler , respectively Toyota (-8.3%, 45,204).

Translated by Denisse-Meda Bucura
MTTLC, Bucharest University