Agerpres, Romanian Economic Highlights, June 21. The sales in new vehicles (cars and commercial vehicles) on the Romanian market totaled 11,852 units in May, climbing by 1.5 percent from April, according to statistical data provided by Automotive Manufacturers and Importers Association. Sales of new cars rose by 3.7 percent, cars and commercial vehicles imports increased by 9 percent, exports advanced by 17.7 percent, while the cars internal production climbed by 2.9 percent. For the first five cumulated months, sales in new vehicles (cars and commercial vehicles) on the Romanian market reached 43,791 units, going down by 32.7 percent as opposed to the same period of time the previous year. Internal production amounted to 147,243 vehicles, out of which 137,206 cars, marking a rise by 31.9 percent from the same period of time the previous year (30.4 percent in cars). The exports increased by 39.2 percent, totaling 133,955 vehicles, while imports in vehicles saw a decline by 36.8 percent, to 29,683 units, with a 36.6 percent decrease in cars.
Car industry accounts for 10% of GDP
Agerpres, Romanian Economic Highlights, May 10.Romania’s economy is increasingly more dependent on the vehicle and part production sector, which accounts for 10 percent of the GDP and for 20 percent of the exports, capital.ro publication informs. President of the Association of Romanian Automotive Manufactures (ACAROM) Constantin Stroe believes that thanks to this industry the Romanian economy managed to cope much better with the difficulties reported over the past period. With an aggregate turnover put at 8.1 billion euros, higher than that reported by agriculture (7.5 billion euros), vehicle and part producers manage to survive and even develop their business. Such share is generated by the producers of subassemblies such as batteries, tyres, wiring or plastics, which had an aggregate turnover worth 3.07 billion euros in 2008, as well as by the mechanical part manufacturers that posted 2.195 billion euros in turnover. The difference to 8.1 billions is reached by the carmakers (2.638 billion euros) and the coachbuilders and trailer manufacturers (0.144 billion euros). According to Constantin Stroe, Romania has potential from all points of view to draw another carmaker, in addition to Renault and Ford and “there are even some prospects and signals in this respect”. As soon as Automobile Dacia plant raised production, part producers that supply the Mioveni-based company have also reported higher deliveries. However, Romanian companies operating on this market, which depend on the export to other large carmakers, have registered dramatic falls. Silviu Badea, CEO with Grupul Industrial Componente, a company that provides subassemblies both for Dacia and for other brands, says “the companies running on Romanian capital are incapable of coping with the crisis by themselves. The size of our companies does not allow us to set trends, but follow the directions imposed by the multinationals.”
