Lorries are first auto market segment to see growth

Exporters, importers, and companies specialised in local distribution will drive the growth of lorry sales in 2011, as well, by around 10-15%, Mercedes-Benz officials say, to over 2,200 units.
Sales of over 18-tonne lorries saw an over 33% increase in the first nine months of this year, according to the statistics of the Automotive Manufacturers and Importers Association, to nearly 1,200 units.
This is the first segment of the Romanian auto market to have seen a return to growth this year, while the overall market has fallen by nearly 24%, being driven by companies with import-export and in distribution operations, according to Mercedes-Benz Romania officials.
"We expect the market to amount to 2,000 lorries by the end of the year. For next year we expect an around 10-15% rise in lorry sales. The segments to see the biggest increases will be international transport and distribution, with Atego," said Stelian Câmpean, marketing manager of the lorry division within Mercedes-Benz Romania.