Exide expects 3m euro sales

American automotive and industrial battery maker Exide Technologies anticipates to sell 3 million euros’ worth on the Romanian market this year, compared with 2 million euros last year. “Our 2003 goal is 9% of the Romanian automotive battery market, which reaches about 1 million units a year,” Rudolf Kovacs, Exide Romania country sales manager, said. He added the turnover growth would be induced by the company’s shift in focus to high-end products. “Sales of imported vehicles are growing on the Romanian market, and those vehicles will need high-end batteries,” Kovacs explains. However, the number one player on the Romanian automotive battery market is still domestic producer Rombat. Considering most people in Romania currently own a Dacia, it was only natural that Rombat’s products would prevail, as they are the cheapest available. After all, the main criterion for making a choice is the price, Kovacs added. Exide is currently importing four brands in Romania. “We cover the low-end segment with the Centra brand, the middle-end with Tudor and Fulmen and the high-end segment with the Exide brand.” ZF