In all, new car registrations increased by almost 26% to almost 51,600 units in the first nine months. This is the first time in three years when new car registrations went beyond 50,000 units. The last time that happened was 2011, when more than 55,000 new cars had been registered by the end of September.
Used car imports returned to growth, as well, last month, with 10% more such cars imported from Western Europe registered in September, compared with the same month a year ago or a volume of almost 20,300. Almost 160,000 used cars were registered in January-September, 4% fewer than in January-September 2013.
Both luxury and volume brands posted growth. Lamborghini saw the highest nine-month growth, 200%, with three cars delivered, followed by Maserati, 150% and Ford, 71%. Only Mercedes-Benz of the three premium German brands posted growth, 17% to almost 1,700 units in the first nine months, while BMW posted decline of 2% to 1,229 and Audi of 9% to 984.
“The premium segment is stable this year because of us. It’s not an unexpected situation,” said Boris Billich, chief executive officer and president Mercedes-Benz Romania.
Sales of premium cars over the last few years either grew faster than the market or grew when the market declined. This had to stop at some point or else the market would be dominated by the premium segment, which is impossible. Moreover, the clunkers program was renewed and gave a significant boost to the market and people do not use it buy Audi or Mercedes-Benz cars, Billich added.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)