Overall auto sales, including commercial vehicles and buses, declined to 87,505 units, from 110,668 units in 2011.
“Auto sales fell 20.9% on the year in 2012, one of the largest decreases in the European Union,” APIA said in a statement.
Romania produced 337,765 vehicles in 2012, slightly higher from 335,232 vehicles in the previous year. Total exports reached 330,940 vehicles, up 8.5% on the year, but overall imports fell 17.5% to 65,821 vehicles.
Dacia, made locally by French Renault’s unit Dacia Automobile, was the best-traded brand on the local new cars market in 2012 with 19,948 units, followed by Volkswagen with 8,046 units and Skoda with 6,291 units, the data showed.