Whereas until this year the Mioveni plant used to halt operations in August, now the holiday period has been distributed both in July and August. Thus, while last August Dacia manufactured 237 cars and a utility vehicle, more than 23,600 vehicles were assembled this year, according to the statistical data provided by the Association of Automotive Manufacturers and Importers (APIA).
Thus whereas the decline on the market neared 10% in July, at the end of August the slump was reduced to almost 1%.
In the first eight months of this year, Dacia made almost 212,500 cars, 1.5% less than a year ago. In comparison, the decline in the first seven months of this year amounted to 9.3%.
The first half gap can be accounted for by the fact that in the first few months of this year Saturdays were no longer working days. Moreover, in the first half of this year there was also an eight-day break generated by the late delivery of electronic control unit parts. In mid-June, Constantin Stroe, Automobile Dacia vice-president, stated that by September 15 the plant’s output would reach the level registered in the similar period of last year.
On the other hand, Ford Romania, the second largest carmaker domestically, owner of the Craiova plant, did not manufacture any car in August, according to APIA statistical data. Ford’s production in the first eight months of the year was 20% above that of last year, at over 5,700 Transit Connect units. Ford’s 2011 production was entirely exported.