Expensive cars were one of the most dynamic segments of the Romanian auto market last year. Whereas the increase in sales of both imported and Romanian-made cars revolved around 19-20 percent, the automobiles with a price tag exceeding 400,000 euros (no taxes included) posted double growth, up to more than 550 units during the same interval.
In terms of quantity, expensive cars account for only one percent of the market, but their value cannot be overlooked - more than 30 million euros, as more than one quarter of the expensive cars are priced at over 75,000-80,000 euros.
In the "cheap" cars (30,000-40,000 euros) category, Romanians prefer French and Japanese automobiles, but when it comes to expensive vehicles, "only the German cars are the real deal."
Last year (just like in the previous years), Mercedes was the best-selling luxury brand on the Romanian market, having sold 194 units, similar to the previous year's performance. In fact, the German manufacturer's flagship, Mercedes S Klasse has been the best-selling luxury car in Romania for several years.
Other German brands, such as Audi, Porsche and Volkswagen saw their sales boosted by the launch of new models last year.
Volvo has also joined the ranks of those carmakers that are beginning to post significant sales on the market of expensive cars, having delivered the popular XC90 all-road model.
On the other hand, BMW and Toyota saw their sales of expensive cars drop, as they failed to come up with novelties.
The newcomer on the Romanian market of luxury automobiles is Italian carmaker Maserati, which delivered six automobiles last year, and already has doubled this figure for 2004.
ionut.bonoiu@zf.ro
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