The 7% growth, however, is the lowest in the past seven months, considering the delay of the start of the clunkers program. On the other hand, May saw the highest increase in the imports of used cars, 12% to almost 19,400 units compared with the year-ago month.
The local market also saw a number of exotic cars registered in May, such as an Aston Martin Rapide S, two Bentley Bentayga, newly introduced in Romania, and BMW i and Mercedes-Benz AMG GT S electric or hybrid models.
In all, new car registrations went up 16% in the first five months compared with the same time in 2015, reaching almost 30,000 units.
The authorities officially announced the launch of the government-backed ‘Rabla’ clunkers program on Monday, almost six weeks later than in 2015.
“We did, indeed, start this program later than in previous years but we came up with a completely new vision thereof in its 12th year in operation. With the introduction of the Rabla Plus component this month we can say we now really have a program that reaches its main goal: reducing pollution and improving air quality for all Romanians,” said Cristiana Pasca Palmer, Minister of Environment, Waters and Forests.
“I would like to see as many electric cars on the streets and in the cities in Romania as of this year.”
This year’s clunkers program will divided into ‘Rabla Clasic’ where people who scrap an old car get a voucher to use towards the purchase of a new vehicle and ‘Rabla Plus’, a component intended to stimulate purchase of a new electric or hybrid vehicle without the mandatory requirement of scrapping an old car. Scrapping an old vehicle is only required for the latter only if the buyer wants to cumulate the two components.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)