SeeNews (South East Europe Newswire) reports that new passenger car sales in Romania rose 100.5% year-on-year in January, to 12,512 units, the Romanian Car Producers and Importers Association (APIA) said on Wednesday. The trade association also reported a strong month for production: Romania produced 11,927 automobiles in January, or 88% more than it did over the same month of last year.
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Sales and production in Romania are being boosted by the impact of the start-up of production of the Dacia Logan.
The overall production of motor vehicles, including trucks and buses, for the period also rose, to 13,558 units, for a 75.3% gain, APIA said in its monthly bulletin.
Romania’s three carmakers – Dacia, Daewoo and Aro – exported 2,745 vehicles in January, up 253.3% compared to the same month of 2004. The vast majority – 2,717 units – were passenger cars.
Dacia launched the Logan in September of last year and the report said that the company has received more than 40,000 orders for the affordable car, aimed at emerging markets.
APIA estimates the Logan will lead the forecast 50% rise in production and 200% increase in exports this year.
Car production in Romania rose 30.8% in Romania last year, to 98,997 units.
The APIA expects sales of motor vehicles, including cars, trucks and buses, to reach 200,000 units this year, up 10% on the year. New passenger car sales totalled 145,120 in 2004, up 35.9% from 2003.
