Top 3 hybrid cars in Romania by year-to-date sales

Romania is lagging far behind other European countries in hybrid car sales due to the government’s failure to attract consumer interest in these eco-friendly vehicles with premiums. Therefore, only 50 hybrid cars have been sold year-to-date in the country.

Honda Hybrid � 10 cars

Honda Civic hybrid uses a 1.3 liters internal combustion engine that generates 95HP and a 20HP permanent magnet assist motor. The starting price is €20,200 (VAT included), cut from €22,580. The car also features leather upholstery.

In the first nine months, the importer sold 4 Honda Insight cars and expects to sell 3 more by the end of the year in Romania.

Honda Insight is available at a starting price of €21,396 (VAT included).

Insight is powered by a 1.3 liter petrol engine that puts out 85 HP and an electric engine that generates 13HP. The electric engine reduces the car’s fuel consumption and generates more power, which collectively reaches 98 HP.

Honda Trading will unveil the new hybrid CR-Z mid next year, after its official launch in Europe in spring 2010.

Toyota Hybrid � 13 cars

Toyota Romania, local importer of car brand in Romania, sold 13 Toyota Prius in the nine months through September this year.

The importer brought the new hybrid generation of Prius, now available at €25,300 – 30,050 (VAT included).

Prius is powered by a 1.8 liter petrol combustion engine that delivers up to 99HP together with a 37HP electric engine.

Next year, Toyota is expected to roll out the new Auris Hybrid in Romania.

Lexus Hybrid � 22 cars

Lexos sold 22 hybrid cars in Romania from January to September this year (RX hybrid, GS hybrid and LS hybrid).

The hybrid models the car maker markets in Romania are RX450h, GS 450h, LS 600h.

Lexus RX450H was launched in June in Romania. The new hybrid SUV Lexus RX 450h is available at €60,082 and €75,931 (VAT included).

The second generation of RX model is powered by a 3.5liter petrol internal combustion engine that generates 249HP and two electric engines. The car’s total output is 299HP.

For RX450H, Toyota Romania expects to sell 30 cars by the end of the year.

In 2011, the car maker will unveil the LF-Ch full hybrid premium compact concept.

Most of the European countries offer tax rebates to stimulate hybrid car sales. The car buyer can benefit of VAT discount, paying only 50% of the car’s value, or can receive a premium of up to €6,400. In the Netherlands, hybrid car owners pay half of total road taxes.

In Romania, the sole advantage of buying a hybrid car is that no registration tax is charged, same as for Euro5 cars.