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share, a 28.7% increase compared to the first nine months of 2017), followed by Volkswagen with 11.191 units (9.8% market share, a 10.2% increase from 2017); Skoda 9,923 units (8.7% of the total market, volume increased
by 18.3%); Renault 8.681 units 2/2 (7.6% of the total market, a 15.7% increase) and Ford 6.948 units (6.1% market share, 10.3% higher volumes).
In the ranking by model, Dacia Logan continues to be the best-selling model in these first nine months of 2018 with 14,361 units sold, followed by Dacia Duster with 8,868 units, Dacia Sandero 7,781 units, Renault Clio 4,050 units and Skoda Octavia 3,906 units.
An analysis of the segmentation by classes shows that most segments are growing, some of them significantly (SUV + 48.3%, Class A + 47.7%, Class F + 32.3%, Class B + 20.8%, Class C + 11.1% and Sport
+ 6.9%). There are also segments that are declining, some of them significantly (MPV -23.2%, Class E -11.2% and Class D -0.2%).
By type of fuel, gasoline-powered cars continue to be the majority, reaching, after the first 9 months of 2018, 60.6% of the total number, a share that is significantly higher (9.5pp)
of their share in the same period of 2017 (51.1%). The top 10 brands/models, 6 brands and 8 models have a share
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of gasoline sales above this average (60.6%).
Growing interest for hybrid cars
On the other hand, ‘green’ cars (electric and hybrid) continue to have a high attractiveness this year, which is also due to the incentives provided by the ‘Rabla Plus’ Programme. As a result, in the first 9 months of 2018, they accounted for 2.6% of the total, an increase compared to the previous year, when their share was only 1.9%.
Although the volumes are still quite small (compared to the other categories of fuels), the increase recorded this year on the segment of electric cars (full and plug-in) is significant: 165.6% (648 units in 2018 compared to only 244 units
in 2017, i.e. about 2.5 times
as many as in 2017), while
for hybrids there is a slightly modest increase (+ 47.6%), but with larger volumes (2,274 units in 2018 compared to 1,541 units in 2017).
This data demonstrates eloquently the growing interest of Romanian individuals and companies in this category of cars, which, with the proper support (including through the development of the charging infrastructure), have become more and more present in traffic, which helps reducing pollution in the big cities.
And there is another important point to mention: the support enjoyed in Romania by electric cars generated the largest percentage increase in the EU in the purchase of such vehicles this year.
With regard to the preferred color, white and gray still dominate demand, with a share of 28.5% and 23.6% respectively of all preferences. The next preferences are blue (16.9%) and black (9.8%).
Another interesting analysis is the evolution of four-wheel drive cars (4x4).
They represented 20.2% of the total number of units delivered in the first 9 months of 2018, with a total volume of 22,980 units, which mean a 15.7% increase compared
to 2017 (but inferior to the average market growth of + 22.3%).
By the country of origin of the cars, the situation is as follows: Romania 30.8%; Germany 19.8%; Czech Republic 10.6%; Turkey 8.2%; Spain 7.6%. In this regard, domestic cars registered a significant increase of 35.3% in 2018 compared to 2017, while the imported cars registered a smaller increase of only 17.3% the APIA press release states.