Car sales rise in three counties, but continue to decline in another 38 counties

In nearly 20 counties car sales continue to drop by more than 23%, the average market decline this year, with only three counties seeing rises.

Players in the auto sector expect next year to be the first in three years to see growth, as this year's car scrappage scheme softened the fall of car sales from over 50% last year to around 23% in the first nine months of this year.
According to Fabrice Cambolive, commercial manager for Dacia, Renault and Nissan brands within Groupe Renault Romania, a sales increase could be seen only in 2012, as the economy stabilises.
Out of the over 40 counties, only Sibiu, Buzău and Bistriţa reported a sales increase between January and September of this year, compared with the similar period of last year, according to statistics of the Automotive Manufacturers and Importers Association (APIA). On the other hand, in all three counties the increase amounts to less than ten cars, which is rather symbolic instead of having any real influence on dealers' operations in the respective regions.
Considered against the number of inhabitants, the biggest sales continued to be recorded in Bucharest, with almost 17 in 1,000 inhabitants buying a new car this year, though down from 22 last year.