Thus, 18% of Romanians chose to postpone the purchase of a car for a period of 6-24 months or until the purchase becomes necessary (15%). Another 10% opted for a new car but from a lower and cheaper class, while 5% ultimately decided to buy a used car.
Among the other countries analyzed, the pandemic generated a significant change in purchasing intentions among drivers in Turkey (71%) and Hungary (44%), while two-thirds of drivers in the Czech Republic said their initial plans to purchase a car was not affected.
In Romania, although 70% of the interviewed drivers last bought a used car, the intention to buy a new car is on the rise and almost 60% of drivers prefer their next car purchased to be new. Safety, price and fuel consumption are the main factors that Romanian drivers consider when choosing their future vehicle.
Regarding the preference for new types of cars, 30% of Romanian respondents want the next purchase to be a hybrid car (24%) or electric (6%). More popular among the 45-60 age segment, 41% of these respondents said they prefer hybrid or electric vehicles, compared to 21% and 20% of those in the 30-44 and 20-29 age segments, respectively. Although Romania offers among the biggest incentives for the purchase of an electric car in the European Union, their price remains the main obstacle.
“In Romania, the interest for electric and hybrid cars is constantly growing. This is apparent both in the preferences of the population and in the investments of companies in services for electric vehicles, such as charging stations. The incentive granted by the state for the acquisition has contributed to the increase of popularity, and in countries where it does not exist, such as the Czech Republic, electric and hybrid models are not considered in case of a new acquisition,” said Cristian Carstoiu, Consulting partner in EY Business, responsible for the Automotive, Digital Transformation and Innovation sector.
However, petrol cars remain in the top of Romanians’ options, totaling 35% of the preferences expressed by respondents, and diesel cars register a decrease, preferred by only 19% of respondents.
Among the analyzed countries, Romanians show the highest interest in alternative fuels. In Hungary, the purchase intention is 24%, 16% in Turkey and 8% in the Czech Republic. In Russia, where EU rules on greenhouse gas emissions do not apply, up to 65% of drivers are interested in conventional engines, petrol or diesel, and hybrid or electric cars are much less popular (8%).
Asked whether they will buy an electric or hybrid car in the future, most Romanian respondents (60%) answered that they would consider this option in case of a good offer, and 25% are sure that they will buy these types of cars. The price is considered the main impediment (36%), followed by the lack of charging stations (27%). The fact that they have low or no emissions and lower maintenance costs are the main advantages mentioned by 41%, respectively 27% of respondents.
For the purchase of a car, 45% of Romanian buyers prefer to use their own funds, especially if they choose to buy a used car. For new cars, most respondents choose to use both their own funds and funds from other sources. Only 23% opted for external financing sources and bank loans were the main option.