Romanian brand Dacia keeps highest growth in EU, despite slow August

More than 21,700 cars under the Romanian brand Dacia sold in the European Union in August this year, which is 2.7% more than in the same month of 2013. In the first eight months of this year, Dacia sold almost 248,000 cars on the EU market, registering a 30% increase year-on-year, according to data posted by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). Dacia maintained the highest growth in new car sales in the EU among the 25 best-selling brands on the market. This helped the Romanian brand increase its market share in the EU to 3% in the first eight months, compared to 2.4% in the same period of 2013. This also pushed it up to 15th place on the EU market, surpassing Korean group Kia, Spanish manufacturer Seat or Swedish Volvo. Dacia is also quickly gaining on Hyundai, as the Korean group saw its sales in Europe decline in the first eight months. Passenger car sales in the EU grew for the twelfth consecutive month in August, but at a slower pace of 2.1%. The two largest markets, Germany and France, recorded declines of 0.4% and 2.6%. In the first eight months, car sales in the EU were up 6%, to more than 8.33 million units. In Romania, new passenger car sales were up by 1.4% in August, to 6.410 units. In the first eight months, the local market was up 26%, to 46,000 units. Andrei Chirileasa, andrei@romania-insider.com