According to the Romanian Association of Automobile Manufacturers and Importers (APIA), 16,008 new passenger cars were registered in the country in June—a 53% increase compared to the same month last year, notes Digi24
Crossovers and SUVs remain the top choices among buyers, accounting for nearly 59% of all new registrations. They are followed by C- and B-segment cars.
At the same time, the structure of demand for engines is changing. Sales of gasoline-powered cars rose by 45%, while demand for diesel models continues to decline: their market share has shrunk to 4.4%. At the same time, interest in hybrid technologies is growing: cars with mild hybrid systems increased by nearly 30% and now account for 24% of the market.
Overall, electrified vehicles (fully electric, plug-in hybrids, as well as conventional and “mild” hybrids) already account for 64% of the new passenger car market. This is significantly higher than the combined share of cars with gasoline and diesel engines.
The Tesla Model Y has become the most popular electric vehicle in the country. Over the course of six months, 793 of these vehicles were registered—nearly five times more than a year ago. The Tesla Model 3 took second place with 648 registrations, while the BYD Dolphin Surf came in third, chosen by 457 buyers.
In the conventional hybrid market, the Toyota Corolla firmly holds first place—2,390 units of this model were sold over the past six months, a 51% increase from the previous year. The Toyota Yaris Cross and Dacia Duster also made it into the top three.
Growth is also evident in the commercial vehicle segment. In June, registrations of light commercial vehicles increased by 2%, while those of heavy trucks and buses jumped by 35%.
