ACEA 2025 Analysis: The Romanian automotive market exceeds the European average, with a growth of 3.8%

The Romanian car market in 2025: A leap above the European average in a year of contrasts

The year 2025 was a moment of consolidation for the European automotive industry, but Romania managed to stand out with a dynamic beyond expectations. According to the latest report published by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), the Romanian market recorded a growth of 3.8%, exceeding the continental average and confirming a growing interest of Romanians in renewing their car fleet, despite a challenging economic context.

The European Picture: Moderate but steady growth

Across the continent, 2025 ended with a total of 13,271,270 new cars sold, marking a 2.4% increase over the previous year. While the growth appears modest, it reflects a market that is trying to stabilize after years of volatility.

• Volume Leaders: Germany remains the "engine" of Europe with 2.85 million units, followed by the UK (2.02 million) and France (1.63 million).
• Growth Champions: Surprises came from the north, where Iceland (+42.4%) and Norway (+39.4%) reported spectacular increases, closely followed by Lithuania (+39.3%).

Romania: Solid performance and changing preferences

With 156,803 new cars registered, Romania has placed itself in a privileged area of ??the European ranking. However, beneath the positive figures lies a structural change in the market:

1. Hybrid Explosion: 2025 was undoubtedly the year of hybrid cars in Romania. They registered a 32% increase, coming to dominate the preferences of those seeking efficiency without total dependence on the outlet.
2. Electric Vehicle Recession: In contrast to the rest of Europe, where sales of electric vehicles (BEVs) have increased, in Romania they have decreased by approximately 10%. This trend has been attributed to the reduction of incentives through the Rabla Plus program and the still insufficient infrastructure.
3. Second-Hand Market: Although the new car market has grown, Romanians continue to import massively: over 360,000 used cars entered the country in 2025, over twice as many as new ones.

The Volkswagen Group maintains its position as the European leader with over 3.5 million units (+5.1%), while the Renault Group, of which Dacia is part, reported a solid growth of 5.9%.

Dacia: Local pride on the European podium

The Mioveni brand continued to be a key player. Dacia sold 597,088 units in Europe, an increase of 3.1%. Moreover, the Romanian brand managed to achieve the performance of being in second place in Europe in the top of sales to individuals, demonstrating that the "value-for-money" strategy remains unbeatable in times of inflation. The Sandero model remained, for the second consecutive year, the best-selling car on the continent across all sales channels.

Conclusion

The Romanian car market has shown remarkable resilience in 2025, managing to grow above the European average. Although the appetite for electric cars has stagnated locally, the massive orientation towards hybrid technologies and the continued success of the Dacia brand indicate a maturing of the Romanian consumer, who is becoming increasingly pragmatic. The challenge for 2026 remains balancing the ratio between new and used cars, as well as revitalizing the green segment.