Top 10 best sold cars in Romania

The car industry suffered one probably its sharpest fall in the last years under the wrath of the global crisis, with over 55% drop in first half. Car manufacturers recorded sagging sales that changed the hierarchy of best sold cars. Dacia had the highest gain in the market, grabbing a 30.5% market share.

10. Peugeot

Peugeot slipped two positions in sales in Romania, down to 10th from 8th in first half last year.

The French car manufacturer sold 2,162 new cars in H1 2009, down 64% than prior-year period. Peugeot’s market share in Romania dropped from 4.1% to 3.1% accordingly.

9. Fiat

Italian-based auto maker Fiat climbed 3 positions, from 12th in 2008, to 9th this year.

Fiat sold 2,840 cars in Romania this year, down 36% from year-ago half. The carmaker’s market share is now at 4%, up from 3.1% in Jan-Jun 2008.

8. Kia

Kia experienced the biggest climb in the rankings, jumping from 14th to 8th in first six months of the year.

Kia’s first-half sales stood at 2,867 cars, down 28% year-on-year. The carmaker’s share in Romania has risen to 4.1% from 2.8% year-ago half.

7. Opel

German car brand Opel previously in 6th is now on 7th experiencing a 63% YoY slump in sales in first half, down to 3,330.

Opel’s market share in Romania fell from 6.2% in H1 2008, to 4.7% this year.

6. Ford

Ford slips one position, from 5th to 6th in this H1 ranking, selling 4,077 cars according to Jan-Jun statistics, 56% less than prior-year period.

Ford’s market share in Romania shrank to 5.8% from 6.4% in first six months of last year.

5. Skoda

In H1 ranking, Skoda moved from second position to fifth, suffering one of the steepest fall in the hierarchy. The carmaker sold 4,426 cars in the first part of the year, 65% less than year-ago half.

Subsequently, Skoda lost 2pps market share this year, down to 6.3%, versus 8.8% a year earlier.

4. Volkswagen

Volkswagen remained the fourth best sold car in Romania in first half this year. The German car manufacturers sold 5,143 cars in first half, down 49% year-on-year.

VW’s market share climbed 0.3% year-to-date, to 7.3%.

3. Renault

France’s Renault moved one position down in first-half hierarchy from 3rd a year earlier. Renault sold 5,146 cars in Romania year-to-date, 53% less than Jan-Jun 2008.

After six months under the current global economic crisis, Renault’s market share in Romania dropped to 7.3%, down from 7.5% a year earlier.

2. Hyundai

Hyundai jumped to second position in first half this year, from 7th a year-ago period.

The auto company sold 6,401 cars in first six months, 6% more than a year earlier. Hyundai’s market share increased up to 9.1% in H1, from only 4.1% in H1 2008.

1. Dacia

Dacia takes up the leading position in Romania, becoming the best sold car brand. The company sold 21,542 new cars in first half, 46.7% less than a year earlier.

The local manufacturer grabbed a market share of 30.5% this year, up from 27.9% in 2008.

In June 2009, Dacia delivered 4,816 cars, down 42.7% from June 2008, and the market share stood at 37.9%, from 27.2% a year earlier.