In the December-March period, the indicator had posted growth each month.
The April drop comes as the clunkers program was launched last month, with the main aim of reviving the market segment addressing individuals. In the first quarter of this year, individuals accounted for only 16% of the market, according to data from the Association of Automotive Manufacturers and Importers (APIA).
“The clunkers program started last year, but sales started moving as late as the second half of the month and clients did not have the time to register the cars,” said Nicolae Sorescu, head of the car unit of Radacini Grup, owning dealers of Opel, Mazda, Suzuki, Citroen and Volkswagen.
“Our sales have already advanced against our planned level, but though we’re having the best organized clunkers program so far it still takes around 10 days to make all the necessary steps,” underscored Sorescu.
However, at the level of the first four months of the year, sales advanced by 11%, to 18.300 cars.
Of the almost 40 car brands sold domestically in the first four months, 20 posted increases, one stagnated and another 20 dropped.
Among rising brands, two posted a three-digit advance. In the case of volume brands, the biggest increase was registered by Ford, which climbed by almost 60% in the first four months to almost 1,500 cars, while Dacia came tenth in the biggest increases’ ranking, with a 25% advance, to over 5,500 units.
Imports of used cars slid by 5% in April and by 10% in the first four months, against the same period of last year. On this segment, only nine brands registered growth.
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu)