New car sales on the Romanian market dropped 53.52% in the first eight months of the year against the same 2008 period, amounting to 92,428 units. In the first eight months of the last year, there have been 198.861 new cars sold in Romania, according to the Romanian Cars Producers and Importers' Association (APIA). The auto market, which includes cars, commercial vehicles and buses, dropped in the mentioned period by 56.7%, to 103.592 units.

9,607 cars have been sold in August, -21.3% against July, while the auto market dropped 17.8%, to 11,066 units. The number of local new cars sold in August was 2.653 units (-55.2%), while during January-July, there have been 28.733 new cars sold (-52.6%).

Regarding imported cars, sales shrank in August by 62.4%, to 6,954 units, while the figures for the first eight months of the year read 63,695, down by 53.9% in contrast with the similar 2008 period.

Dacia is still the preferred brand, with 28,733 sold cars, followed by Hyundai (8,032) and Ford (5,481). Next in line are Renault (6,566) and Volkswagen (6,495).

The most imported car model in Romania in the first eight months is Renault Clio (3,916), followed by Kia Cee'd (3,718 cars) and Ford Focus (2,494).