Romanian automaker Automobile Dacia has so far registered 4,000 orders as part of the Rabla ("Junk car") programme, more than double the allocated quota of 1,731 units, in the first of the three stages of the programme, ending in late May.
Car dealers' sales through this year' car fleet renewal programme started on Friday 20 March, two weeks after the publication of norms of the website of Administratia Fondului de Mediu (Environment Fund Administration).
"By the end of last week, the contract between the agency and companies had not been signed and it was not published in the Official Gazette. This happened as late as Friday, in the context where talks for this year's REMAT (car renewal i.e.) programme started in early December," stated Constantin Stroe, vice-president with Automobile Dacia.
Besides Dacia, demand for several hundred units was also registered for import brands such as Ford, Kia and Skoda.
In 2009, the scrapping bonus stands at 3,800 RON (around 900 euros), which, according to statements by environment minister Nicolae Nemirschi, will not be raised this year, even in case the volume of 60,000 earmarked units is not sold out.
According to car dealers, the announcement the programme was launched pushed up showroom traffic. "Since REMAT programme was launched, showroom traffic has risen by around 30% from the previous period. So far, the highest number of orders has been registered for Ford Focus and the new Fiesta," said Monica Necula, communication manager with Colina Motors, one of the main Ford dealers in Bucharest.
Dacia, Renault-Nissan, Hyundai, Opel and Chevrolet brands have received the largest quotas in the first stage of the programme meant to encourage the renewal of the car fleet, namely 1,731 units each, according to the data provided by Environment Fund Administration.
Automobile Dacia has recently presented in Bucharest the Duster crossover concept that was launched at Geneva Car Show early this month, which announces the company's new image strategy. "There will always be a sedan model and a hatchback one, but there will be 4 new concepts within a few years," said Patrick Lecharpy, head of Design Amont Renault.
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