Romanian auto factories Dacia and Ford Otosan report production drop in May 2026

Romania's vehicle manufacturing fell sharply in May 2026. The Dacia plant in Mioveni assembled 23,251 cars and the Ford Otosan facility in Craiova produced 20,426, bringing total monthly output to 43,677 units – a 14.7% decline compared with May 2025.

For the first five months of 2026, cumulative production reached 203,546 vehicles, down 11.2% from the same period a year earlier. Dacia contributed 106,296 cars while Ford Otosan added 97,250. The slump translates to an estimated loss of about €600 million, affecting the auto sector's share of Romania's gross domestic product. Models most affected included Dacia’s Duster and Bigster, while Ford’s Puma, Puma Gen‑E electric version and the Courier family also saw reduced output.

The downturn reflects broader weakness in European automotive demand, putting pressure on Romania’s key manufacturing hub and its role as a major employer in the Argeș and Dolj counties.