New commercial vehicle registrations in Romania were up 65 percent year-on-year in May 2014, to 1,316 units, according to data published by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).

Only Bulgaria and Cyprus posted higher growth rates, but the data for the two markets is incomplete.

The increase in commercial vehicle sales reflects the strong growth that the Romanian economy posted in 2013 and the first quarter of this year, which is now starting to be fueled by domestic consumption.

In the first five months, new commercial vehicle registrations in Romania were up 15.7 percent, to more than 5,500 units. The growth is above the EU average of 9.1 percent.

The highest growth rates in Romania are on the medium and heavy commercial vehicles segment, which is trucks of over 3.5 tons, which had 340 new registrations in May, up 74 percent year-on-year. In the first five months, sales on this segment were more than 1,500 units, which is 64 percent larger than in the same period last year. The heavy truck segment, which is vehicles of more than 16 tons, was the main driver, as it accounts for more than 93 percent of sales on this segment.

Light commercial vehicle sales, which consist of vans under 3.5 tons, were 934 in May 2014, 62 percent more than in May 2013. In the first five month, the growth rate was almost 10 percent, to 3,713 units.

Sales of heavy and medium busses and coaches were up 45 percent in May, to 42 units, but 38 percent lower in the first five months, to 291 units, ACEA data shows.

Data from the Romanian Automobile Manufacturers and Importers Association (APIA) shows that Mercedes-Benz dominates the medium and heavy commercial vehicles segment, with more than 490 units sold in the first five months, followed by MAN, DAF, Volvo Trucks, IVECO and Renault Trucks.

On the light commercial vehicles segment, Romanian producer Dacia sold the most units in the first five months, with 832 vehicles. Second comes Mercedes, with 556 units sold, and third is Ford, with 531. Next are Renault (471), Volkswagen (369), Fiat (362), Peugeot (259) and Citroen (252).

Andrei Chirileasa, andrei@romania-insider.com