Ford’s exports soared 140.5% in the first quarter of 2018, according to data from the Automotive Manufacturers and Importers Association (APIA).
According to APIA, new car sales rose 20.3% in January-March 2018, to 35,993 units, of which 29,531 vehicles (+26.1%) and 6,462 commercial vehicles (-0.6%). By car brands, the ranking is led by Dacia, with 9,309 units sold (vehicle and commercial vehicles), followed by Volkswagen, with 3,680 units, and Ford with 3,055 units.
In Romania, car sales are mainly upheld by legal entities, which cover 70% of overall car purchases in the first three months of 2018.
By car models, with 3,270 units sold, Dacia Logan is the best-selling model in the first three months of 2018, followed by Dacia Sandero, with 2,112 units, Dacia Duster with 2,103 units, Skoda Octavia with 1,086 units and Renault Clio with 963 units.
Overall, the first three months of 2018 saw the biggest sales volume registered in the first quarter of the last ten years, with an increase of 20.3% compared with the same period a year before.
In Europe, after a negative evolution in March 2018 (-5.3%), the first quarter of 2018 saw an extremely small increase, of 0.7% compared with the evolutions so far, even though some countries in the European Union, among which Romania (+28.6%), saw significant increases.
This is due to a way smaller advance, or even a market decline, registered in the most powerful countries which together account for 75% of the overall EU market, namely, France (+2.9%), Germany (+4.0%), Italy (1.5%), Spain (+10.5%) and England (- 12.4%).