Romania's auto production drops 12.7% in first half of 2026

Car manufacturing in Romania fell 12.7% in the first half of 2026, with 247,942 vehicles assembled, according to the industry association ACAROM. The decline was led by Automobile Dacia, whose output fell 17.69% to 129,404 units, while Ford Otosan produced 118,568 cars, a 6.65% drop.

In June alone, 44,536 vehicles left the assembly lines – 23,218 from Dacia and 21,318 from Ford. The slowdown is attributed to weak domestic and export demand, rising energy costs and a shift toward electric models. Renault, Dacia’s owner, cancelled plans to expand Romanian production capacity and announced a voluntary lay‑off programme for about 900 workers. New Dacia models will be built in Slovenia and Turkey, while both manufacturers are increasing the share of electric vehicles in their line‑ups.

The automotive sector, one of Romania’s key economic pillars, saw Dacia rank as the second‑largest company by revenue last year, underscoring the broader impact of the production slump on the national economy.