The Association of Car Manufacturers and Importers estimates a slight increase in the Romanian market of new vehicles in 2012 as compared to the previous year, up to 100,000 units.

According to the latest official data released by APIA, the car sales over the first 11 months of 2011 amounted to 89,032 units, 10.5 percent less, whereas the total car sales (cars and utility vehicles) were 103,314 units.

Mr Brent Valmar VP of APIA said that even if the market reported depreciations in 2011, the local car market witnessed a stabilization, which trend will stay the same during 2012.

As regards Porsche Romania group, the major importer on the local market, representing car makes such as Volkswagen, Skoda, Audi, SEAT and Porsche, Mr Valmar said that sales went up slightly in 2011 and met the initial planning of the company, reaching a average of 1,885 cars a month compared to 1,856 cars in 2010. He stressed that an increase in the market share is not essential and prone to bring stability, but the sales amounts, and these remain at modest levels.

Compared to a peak of 60,000 cars a year, the figure sold by Porsche Romania, the total sales in 2011 amounted to 22,500 units, showed the managing director of the company.

He said that the world car production industry reached a record in 2011 and that the national manufacturers Ford and Dacia and all the major manufacturers have a steady product campaign in 2012. He added that "This should solve the issue of Romania reaching the landmark of 100,000 units in 2012. Each new model brings a new plus. Unfortunately, we face with the very low purchasing power and the reticence of funding bodies."

(Sourced from www.financiarul.ro)