Renault's turnover in Romania just shy of EUR 4 billion despite drop in Dacia car manufacturing business

The turnover of Group Renault Romania went slightly up last year, to some EUR 3.9 billion, which includes both the Automobile Dacia production unit, its sales division Renault Commercial Roumanie, as well as the divisions that produce gears, engines and other components. Automobile Dacia brings however the largest part of the revenues, EUR 2.85 billion last year. The car maker's turnover was down 8 percent on the year before, but the drop did not affect the turnover of the group in Romania. The increase on the rest of the activities performed by Renault in Romania was from EUR 0.8 billion in 2011, to EUR 1.1 billion in 2012, fueled by the engineering center, as well as the production of engines and gears. Car sales struggled last year in Romania as new car registrations fell by 18.7 percent from the level in 2011. Last year, 66,436 new cars were registered, significantly down on 2011 when the figure was over 81,000, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA). New car registrations were down across Europe, but Romania's results were far poorer than the 8.2 percent EU average fall, which made 2012 the worst year for EU car sales in 17 years. Sales of Dacia models in 2012 were up by 4.8 percent to nearly 360,000 units. editor@romania-insider.com