Sales of cars in Romania during January this year decreased by 23 percent over the same period in 2011, to 4,221 units, but the country exported most of its production during the first month of the year. Passenger car delivery went down by 21 percent, to 3,475 units, according to the Automotive Manufacturers and Importers Association (APIA).

According to APIA, 99 percent of the production was exported due to the low internal demand. Car exports in January 2012 registered an advance of 6.5 percent compared to the same month of 2011, to 25,832 units. The Dacia Duster was the most exported brand - with 12,116 units, followed by Sandero - 6,669 units.

Dacia also ranks first among the most sold cars, with 887 units sold, followed by Volkswagen - 478 units, Skoda - 325 units, Ford - 222 units and Renault - 217 units.

Imports dropped by 19 percent in January this year, to 3,250 units, according to APIA. See the entire APIA report here.

Romanian brand Dacia’s sales fell slightly by 1.8 percent in 2011, to around 343,000  cars sold worldwide, according to the company. The reported results were close to 2010′s 349,000 units sold. The Dacia Duster accounted for 47 percent of the total sales. The best selling Dacia model was the Duster SUV with 161,200 units sold, followed by Logan, with over 95,000 units, and Sandero, with more than 86,000 cars sold.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Daciagroup.com)