The hard times for the motor trade have continued in 2013, with sales of new cars maintaining the downward trend begun in 2011 across the EU, the latest figures from the European Automobiles Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) show. But among the the drops and slides, Romanian-made austerity-mobile, the Dacia, goes from strength to strength, recording significant rises in sales and increases in market share during the first two months of 2013.

In Romania, there was a 15.8 percent fall in new car registrations in February 2013 on the same month last year. Comparing January and February to the same two months in 2012, there was a 12.7 percent fall in new registrations. Overall across the EU, there was a 10.5 percent year-on-year drop in new car registrations in February and a 9.5 percent for the first two months of 2013 against last year.

Of the big European markets, the UK was the only to post growth in sales (up 7.9 percent in February, year-on-year), while Germany, France, Italy and Spain all posted declines.

Sales of Dacia cars were again on the up in the EU. New registrations of Dacia cars rose by 15.9 percent year-on-year to reach over 20,000 units in February 2013. During January and February, more than 40,000 Dacias were sold, a 12.1 percent increase on the first two months of 2012. Dacia's market share grew to 2.5 percent from 1.9 percent at the start of 2012. Overall, the Renault Group posted year-on-year falls in January and February 2013.

Liam Lever, liam@romania-insider.com