Other significant car registrations growths were registered by Greece, with 42.3%, to 7,459 units, and Portugal, with 36.5%, to 13,773 units, according to data released by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA).
In April, Romania was one of the few countries posting car registration drops.
In May, the European auto market rose 4.5%, to 1.09 million cars, registering growth for the ninth consecutive month.
Italy was the only major market to face a downturn (-3.8%) in May. All other significant markets contributed positively to the overall 4.5% expansion of the EU market, with growth ranging from +0.3% in France, +5.2% in Germany, +7.7% in the UK to +16.9% in Spain.
Car sales rose 18% in the first five months in Romania, to 24,278 units, while car sales in the EU advanced 6.9%, to 5.43 million.
From January to May, all major markets posted growth, contributing to the overall 6.9% upturn of the EU market. The increase in passenger car registrations in this period ranged from 3.0% in France, 3.2% in Italy, 3.4% in Germany to 11.6% in the UK and 16.3% in Spain.
Dacia’s EU sales increased by 25%, to 30,848 units, ranking fourth after Jeep whose sales double to 2,967 units, Mitsubishi with a 38.3% sales growth and Lexus, with a 36.6% sales increase to 2,126 units.
Dacia’s owner Renault, Europe’s third largest automaker, saw a 16.2% increase in sales, to 70,486 units.
Between January-May, Dacia sales rose 37%, to 155,053 units, ranking second after Jeep, with a 39% increase, to 12,140 units. Renault sales rose 12.3%, to 358,562 units.