The number of electric or hybrids cars purchased via Romania’s Cash-for-Bangers (Rabla) program will go up to over 1,000 this year, said the Romanian environment minister Gratiela Gavrilescu.

Some 600 such cars were purchased so far this year, up from only 48 in 2016, the minister added, reports local Agerpres.

Gavrilescu also said that the Cash-for-Bangers program, which aims to stimulate the renewal of the national car fleet, would benefit from additional funds “in a very short time.”

Official data showed that the sales of eco cars in Romania, including both hybrid and electric cars, reached 1,237 units in the first seven months of the year, almost triple compared to the same period last year. BMW was the most popular brand among electric cars, with 40 units sold in this period.

Irina Marica, irina.marica@romania-insider.com