Romanian auto industry sees sharp sales drop and production slump

Dacia CEO Katrin Adt warned that the European market has lost roughly three million new cars since 2019, urging EU regulators to pause new obligations to help keep prices stable and revive sales. She emphasized that Dacia will continue its strategy of affordable models, with the upcoming Spring launch in September and a new Striker model priced under €25,000, while also moving toward competitive electric offerings.

Data from the Brașov County Statistics Directorate show a 15% decline in industrial turnover in May compared with the same month last year, with the auto manufacturing segment hit hardest, falling 31.6% year‑on‑year. The downturn in vehicle production adds to the broader challenges facing Romania’s automotive sector, which is already grappling with stricter regulations, rising competition from Chinese manufacturers, and higher fuel prices.