In all, the January-February growth stood at 24% to almost 2,300 units, according to the Driving License and Vehicle Registration Department (DRPCIV). Last year’s growth in registrations of such vehicles was 27% to more than 16,000 units, according go the Automotive Manufacturers and Importers Association (APIA).
“The main reason we are seeing this growth is the fleet refresh need and expansion of existing fleets in some cases,” said Sigurd Wandel, managing director of Volvo Group Trucks Romania.
Volvo expects a rise in orders for its trucks this year, but it is too soon to say whether that is a trend for the entire market.
Truck and commercial utility vehicle sales are an important barometer for a country’s economy. Just like the slump in sales in the second half of 2008 announced the crisis that started in 2009, the rise in 2014 announced a rebound.
Dacia leads in the ranking of commercial utility vehicle registrations in the first two months of the year with 427 units, an increase of over 150% on the year-earlier period. On top of that, 15 Duster Pickups modified by Romturingia for OMV Petrom’s fleet were registered, as well. Second in the ranking is Mercedes-Benz, 275 units, 16% more than in January and February 2014.
“Up until last year, the market was much lower than it should have been,” said Jorge Leuschner, chief executive officer of MHS Truck&Bus.
A normal market, he says, should stand at at least 7,000 to 8,000 over 6-ton trucks. The local market could go beyond the 7,000 mark as soon as this year or maybe next year. Unless something unexpected happens, trucks sales should amount to more than 5,000 units in 2015 and his company will deliver 20% of them or at least 1,000. Looking at the beginning of this year, the number can be even higher.
Leuschner, 65, has previously worked for Mercedes-Benz and for Tiriac Holdings in Romania.
MHS Truck&Bus is the importer of the MAN trucks and Neoplan buses in Romania, part of the Automobile Bavaria group of businessman Michael Schmidt. It posted EUR86 million revenue last year, up 34% on the EUR64.2 million in 2013.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)