The new car market in Romania decreased a lot in the first two months of the year, and only a few categories of hybrid vehicles were in surplus, mainly thanks to the BYD brand. “The data confirm a significant contraction trend, especially in the new car segment,” says the president of the Association of Automobile Manufacturers and Importers (APIA), Dan Vardie.
Few points of growth in a falling market
In the first two months of this year, the new car market fell by 29%, and the five best-selling brands were Dacia, Toyota, Skoda, Volkswagen and Renault, according to the data sent on Monday by the Association of Automobile Manufacturers and Importers (APIA).
The five best-selling models were Dacia's Duster and Bigster, Toyota Corolla, Skoda Octavia and Dacia Logan.
Full-electric cars had 10% of the market last month, and the best-selling models this year were Tesla Model Y, BYD Dolphin Surf and Dacia Spring. Overall, sales of all-electric cars rose by 3% in the first two months.
An important change in the market is the presence of the Chinese brand BYD, which was not launched a year ago. BYD is in second place in full-electric and plug-in hybrids after the first two months of this year.
Last month, compared to February 2025, registrations of new petrol cars fell by 50% and diesel registrations fell by 33%.
“The price of fossil fuels is sensitive to geopolitical tensions”
“The data on the evolution of the car market, in February, confirm a significant contraction trend, especially in the segment of new cars, where we register a decrease of 24% compared to the same period last year. This evolution reflects, to a large extent, the climate of uncertainty that characterizes the beginning of 2026, in a context where the national budget is not yet approved, and the mechanisms to support the market, including the programs to stimulate the renewal of the fleet auto, have not been clarified,” says APIA President Dan Vardie in a press release.
He also adds that developments in the Middle East conflict are worth watching carefully in the future, as they may influence consumers' perception of the costs associated with mobility.
“The price of fossil fuels is much more sensitive to geopolitical tensions and the volatility of the oil market, while the use of electric vehicles depends to a greater extent on local energy sources, thus being perceived as more stable from a cost perspective,” says the head of APIA.
He also notes that while the overall market is declining, the electrified vehicle segment continues to dominate, with a 67% market share among passenger cars. However, there are differences between the types of engines: full-hybrid and plug-in hybrid continue to grow, while the mild-hybrid segment is more strongly affected by market volatility.
“For the automotive industry in Romania, the predictability of public policies remains essential. The lack of clear visibility on the budget framework and incentive programs, especially for low-emission vehicles, can delay the purchase decisions of consumers and companies”, says the head of APIA:
Source: Dreamstime.com
