As the European car market confronts with serious difficulties, its effects are also felt in Romania where new car sales decreased by 30% in October as compared to the similar month, in 2007. Sales of the cars produced in the country decreased by 40% in October. Overall, Romanians bought some 20,000 cars last month, as compared to 29,000 in the similar month, last year.

Data reveals that the current financial crisis starts affecting the main economic growth generator: the automobile market. Thus, the industry calls for a supporting policy that would discourage the imports of old cars.

Car sales in Romania decreased by 2.3% in the first ten months, from 300,000 to 292,000 units, the Romanian Automobile Producers and Importers Association data show. Car sales dropped by 25% in October as compared to September.