Top carmakers in Romania by profit margin

Mercedes-Benz Romania - 9.3 million euros loss

Mercedes-Benz Romania, importer of the German car brand in the country, swung to loss in 2008, from a profit margin of 3.7% in 2007.

The net loss recorded by the car dealer in 2008 has passed the 9-million euro mark. In 2007, the company had an after-tax profit of 13.4 million euros.

Mercedes’ turnover stood at 394.7 million euros in 2008, up 8.5% from a year earlier. In 2008, 7,881 Mercedes cars were delivered in Romania.

Toyota Romania � 2.1 million euros loss

Toyota Romania, the Romanian unit of Japan-based giant, was on loss in 2008, while its 2007 profit margins stood at 4.4%.

The carmaker reported a net loss of 2.12 million euros. In 2007, Toyota Romania recorded a net profit of over 8 million euros.

Toyota’s sales in Romania increased by 45% up to 266 million euros, from 183 million euros a year earlier, grabbing a market share of 3.1% in the period under review.

M Car Trading � 551,000 euro loss

M Car Trading, official distributor of Mitsubishi in Romania, booked a net loss of 551,000 euros in 2008, from a profit margin of 5.5% in a year earlier. In 2007, the company posted a profit of 4 million euros.

M Car Trading’s turnover went up 5.7% in 2008, to 77.9 million euros.

Over 4.100 Mitsubishi cars were sold in Romania last year, lifting the carmaker’s market share to 1.3%.

Automobile Bavaria � 0.1% profitability ratio

Automobile Bavaria, BMW Group car dealer in Romania reported a profit margin of 0.1% in 2008, down from 9.6% a year earlier.

The turnover of the German carmaker’s local unit fell 3.1% in 2008, up to 171 million euros, while after-tax profit sank 99% to 219,000 euros.

BMW took up a market share of 0.8% in Romania, with 2,446 cars sold.

AutoItalia � 0.2% profit margin

AutoItalia, importer of Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Ssang Yong, Infiniti, Maserati and Segway in Romania, posted a profitability ratio of 0.2%, down from 2.7% in 2007.

The dealer’s turnover advanced by 4.7% to 224 million euros, while profit sank 93%, to 434,000 euros.

In 2008, AutoItalia sold over 16,200 passenger cars in Romania, 0.4% fewer than a year earlier.

Hyundai Auto Romania � 0.5% profit margin

Hyundai Auto Romania posted a profit margin of 0.5% in 2008 down from 2.9% a year earlier.

The turnover of Hyundai’s local unit fell 24% last year, to 142.8 million euros, while profit plummeted 87% to 703,000 euros.

Hyundai sold 13,108 cars in Romania last year, and grabbed a market share of 4%.

Renault-Nissan Romania � 2.1% profit margin

Importer of Nissan and Renault in Romania reported a profit margin of 2.1% for FY 2008, up from 1.6% in 2007.

Renault-Nissan’s turnover slumped 23% in 2008, to 326 million euros, while profit sank 1.4% to 6.8 million euros.

The French-based carmaker sold 22,000 cars in Romania in 2008. Its market share stood at 6.8% in the period under review.

Nissan sold 3,536 cars in Romania in 2008, 15% fewer than in 2007. The carmaker’s market share stood at 1.1% in the same period.

Automobile Dacia � 2.9% profit margin

Romanian car manufacturer Dacia, part of the French automotive group Renault, posted a profitability ratio of 2.9%, down from 6.3% in 2007.

According to Dacia’s financial report, the carmaker recorded a turnover of 2.07 billion euros in 2008, up 10% from a year earlier, largely due to car sales for exports, while cars in the domestic market dropped.

Dacia’s last year’s profit stood at 60.28 million euros (222 million lei), twice lower than in 2007.

Premium Auto � 4.1% profit margin

The profit margin of the local importer of Land Rover and Jaguar, Premium Auto, climbed last year to 4.1 %, from 3% in 2007.

In 2008, turnover of Premium Auto jumped 110% to 46.6 million euros, and net profit soared 184% to 1.9 million euros.

In 2008, the importer sold 824 Land Rover cars and 228 Jaguar.

Romcar � profit margin 4.3%

Romcar, Ford’s local branch, posted a profit margin of 4.3% down from 4.6% in 2007.

Romcar’s turnover increased by 9% last year, to 304.8 million euros, while net profit edged up 1.5% to 13.2 million euros.

The carmaker sold 22.139 Ford cars in Romania last year, 1.9% more than a year earlier, and recorded a market share of 6.8%.

Trust Motors � 6.9% profit margin

Importer of Peugeot, Trust Motors recorded a profitability ratio of 6.9% in 2008, down from 7.7% a year earlier.

The company’s profit fell 27% in the period under review, to 13 million euros, while turnover slumped 19% to 188.5 million euros.

Trust Motors sold 16,959 Peugeot cars in 2008.

Porsche Romania � 7.2% profit margin

Importer of Audi, Volkswagen, Skoda, Seat, Lamborghini, Porsche and Bentley, Porche Romania reported a profitability ratio of 7.2%, down from 9.2% in 2007, the best performance recorded by an automotive company in 2008.

In 2008, Porsche Romania’s turnover fell 1% to 933 million euros, from over 1 billion euros a year earlier.

After-tax profit plummeted 22% in 2008 to 71.7 million euros.

Porsche Romania holds 20% of the local car industry, with 53,955 cars sold in 2008, 8% fewer than a year earlier.

The financial results in the statements posted on the website of the Ministry of Finance were calculated at an annual median exchange rate of 3.68 lei/euro in 2008.