Lagermax: Used car imports helped us

Austria's Lagermax transporter, specialised in logistics for car importers and makers, considers imports of cars for the domestic market reached the level of sales of the '90s, and a significant turnover increase may come from Ford, the carmaker that should start production in mid 2010. According to Finance Ministry data, Lagermax turnover in 2009 contracted to 14m euros, around 40% less than in the previous year. "2009 was a difficult year, of steep decline in line with car sales in Romania, if we refer to imports. Instead, on the segment of exports, Dacia's success on foreign markets also reflected in our business," states Serban Popescu, general manager of Lagermax Autotransport. He added a 5% turnover increase to almost 15m euros was budgeted for 2010. "We're in principle specialised in nationwide car distribution, but the market has forced us now to also focus on exports," Popescu said. "Imports of used cars helped us. We brought around 100 trucks, 800 cars, this year only. Orders in principle come from the West of the country, from used car dealers in Timisoara, Arad, Cluj," he added.