The market was affected by restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic as well as more restrictive emissions standards that generated a wave of registrations in December 2019.
The local car market continued to be driven by companies in the first quarter, accounting for 65% of car sales, while sales to individuals accounted for 35%.
The western European market dropped 27.1% in the first quarter with a record fall of 52.9% in March, due to pandemic restrictions, emissions standards and a lower production which came to a halt mid-March.
Sales in Romania by brands (cars and commercial vehicles) were led by Dacia in the first quarter, with 8,019 units sold, followed by Volkswagen with 3,031 units, Renault with 2,587 units, Skoda with 2,454 units and Ford 2,184 units.
On the car segment alone, the ranking was led by Dacia with 7,437 units (27% market share), followed by Volkswagen with 2,535 units (9.2% market share), Skoda with 2,454 units (8.9% market share), Renault with 2,106 units (7.6% market share) and Hyundai with 2,040 units (7.4% market share).
By car models, with Dacia Logan was the best selling model in the first quarter of 2020, followed by Dacia Duster with 1,990 units, Dacia Sandero with 1,642 units, Skoda Octavia with 1,202 units and Renault Clio with 892 units.
By type of fuel, gasoline-fueled vehicles accounted for 64.9% of the total auto market in Romania in the first quarter, down from 65.7% in the same period last year, while diesel vehicles accounted for 29.4% in the first quarter, from 30.2% in the same period last year.
Sales of electrical and hybrid vehicles grew 7.2% in the first quarter.