Dacia SUV is likely to come to weigh 30% in total orders logged by Dacia dealers in April, considering the new model was commercially launched in mid-March in domestic showrooms. Thus, out of the 4-5,000 ordered Dacia cars, more than 1,500 could be Duster models, according to ZF estimates. Ziarul Financiar analysed the trend of orders for the new SUV from Dacia by polling domestic market dealers, as the company’s officials no longer provide any figures on the trend of Duster orders. Dealers say Duster is exactly what was missing from Dacia’s portfolio to ensure the company’s growth amid the current economic downturn, which triggered the market’s decline to a third against 2007 or 2008 volumes. Orders received by dealers are not just inquiries by clients, as they pay an advance of 5-10% from the value of the car when they sign pre-orders.
Once it attracts a new segment of clients, who have so far afforded only a small-class model or a used compact SUV, Duster will trigger a strong increase of the off-road car segment, both domestically and in Europe.