Dacia had the biggest growth in the EU in March, of 53.5%, to 35,625 units, from 23,210 units in March 2013, according to data released Thursday by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA).
French group Renault, Dacia’s owner and the third largest European carmaker, posted a growth of 30.4%, to 130,500 cars from little over 100,000 in March last year.
The EU auto market increased 8.4% in the first quarter of the year, to 3.246 million units, from 2.994 million in the same period in 2013.
Dacia’s EU registrations in the first quarter increased 42.7%, to 90,500 units, from 63,500 in the same period last year.
Volkswagen, Europe’s largest carmaker, sold 335,600 cars in the EU in March and 785,900 in the first quarter, posting a growth of 8.6%.
PSA Peugeot Citroen sales increased 10.9% in March, to 150,400 cars, and 7.7% in the first quarter, to 363,800 cars.
Romania’s auto market had the third-largest growth in the EU in March, of 37.7%, to nearly 4,600 cars. Sales in Portugal increased 47%, to 14,150 units, while sales in Poland increased 41.3%, to 35,850 cars.
Germany, the EU’s largest auto market, increased 5.4% in March, to 296,400 units, followed by France with 8.5%, to 179,900 units, and Italy with 5%, to 139,300 units. In the UK, new car sales increased 17.7% in March, to 464,800 units.