The growth rate was even higher in March, when it reached 17% to 5,339 cars, the best March in six years.
Almost 54,600 used cars were registered in the first quarter as well, 17% more than in the year-ago period.
This year’s growth potential comes from both the government-backed clunkers program, which got 25,000 vouchers compared with 20,000 last year and the new First Car scheme, where the government secures half of a car loan to buy a new car that costs no more than 50,000 lei excluding VAT (about EUR13,800 including VAT).
March was also when four Bentley cars were registered, which makes it the best month for the British luxury automaker. Romania has had an official Bentley showroom as well as an official Lamborghini showroom since 2013, opened by Porsche Inter Auto.
The most exclusive model is a Bentley Continental GT V8 S, with a price tag of over EUR200,000 including VAT.
The most exclusive cars registered last month also include an Audi RS6 Avant, whose starting price is EUR116,700 including VAT.
Porsche, too, saw significant growth (15%) to almost 40 cars in the first quarter, while Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini started the year with a decline in registrations. Only two Maserati cars were registered, as well as one Ferrari and one Lamborghini.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)