Carmaker Dacia, Romania’s strongest export brand, saw its sales in the European Union (EU) grow by 25 percent in May 2014, compared to the same month last year, to 30,850 units, according to data published by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). Dacia’s market share in the EU grew to 2.8 percent, from 2.4 percent in May 2013.

In the first five months of the year, Dacia’s sales in the EU surpassed 155,000 units, which is a 37 percent increase year-on-year. The Romanian carmaker’s market share was 2.9 percent, compared to 2.2 percent in the first five months of 2013. Only American brand Jeep had a bigger increase in sales in the same period, but Jeep sells more than ten times fewer units than Dacia in the EU.

Dacia, which is owned by French group Renault, went up two positions in the EU car sales ranking, to 14, surpassing Korean manufacturer Kia and Spanish carmaker Seat, which is part of Volkswagen group.

New passenger car registrations in the EU grew 4.5 percent in May, which is the ninth consecutive increase. For the first five months, the growth was 6.9 percent, to a total of 5.43 million units sold.

Romania’s new passenger cars registrations had the largest increase in the EU in May, of 46 percent, to just over 6,000 units. In the first five months, sales in Romania were up 18 percent, to 24,200 units.

The ACEA figures for Romania usually differ from those published by the Romanian Automotive Manufacturers and Importers Association (APIA).

New car sales in Romania up for ten months in a row. Four out of five cars are bought by companies.

New car sales in Romania see second largest decline in the EU in April.

Andrei Chirileasa, andrei@romania-insider.com