Sales of heavy trucks of more than 16 tons went up by 25% to almost 8,700 units last year, according to the Automotive Manufacturers and Importers Association (APIA) and slowed down somewhat in the first two months of 2017, with sales volumes flat on the year-ago period at about 1,200 units.
“The beginning of the year was difficult probably because of the regulations about the environmental stamp duty, and the market saw a 3.5% decline,” said Milos Vujanovic, chief executive officer of MHS Truck & Bus Group.
He estimates a slight increase on 2016, which will probably be more visible in the second half. If demand for long-haul transportation services remains high in Western Europe, then demand for trucks will go up, as well, he added.
If the Romanian government starts investment to develop road infrastructure, then the market of vehicles used in construction work could start growing, too.
Ovidiu Pintilie, Sales Manager Trucks Mercedes-Benz Romania, says 2016 was very good for the heavy commercial utility vehicles, which saw 24% growth on 2015, and for the truck division of Mercedes-Benz, which ended the year as market leader in Romania for the third year in a row.
“The main growth driver in terms of number of units sold was the need to refresh national fleets, but fleet expansion, too, had a significant contribution in 2016.”
Sales of parts went up, as well, by 30% in 2016, following an increase in the number of customers served by the authorized service network of Mercedes-Benz.
The officials of DAF importer EvW Holding Romania say that 2016 was a very good year in terms of results.
About 2,000 new Mercedes-Benz trucks of over 6 tons were registered at the end of 2016, according to Driving License and Vehicle Registration (DRPCIV) data, about 90% of which used for long-haul transportation, 6% to 7% in the construction business and the rest various specialized models.
MHS Truck & Bus Group delivered more than 1,400 vehicles last year, 1,002 of which new MAN trucks, 12 MAN/Neoplan coaches and 416 used trucks.
DAF importer officials say sales of XF/CF range stood at 742 units, about 90% of which (667 units) were XF tractor heads, used in international transportation.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)