Romcar: Fleet sales will generate 30% of turnover

Romcar, a member of the Tiriac group and importer of Ford vehicles on the Romanian market, forecasts turnover worth 340 million euros this year, up 24% against the 275 million euros derived in 2007. Ford’s sales on the local market increased by almost 70% last year and reached a total volume of 21,732 units, which included 17,338 cars, up 84% against the previous year. This year, Romcar’s sales target is higher than the 5% increase estimated by the car market, and the 15% increase for imports, as forecast by representatives of the Automotive Manufacturers and Importers Association (APIA). In 2008, Ford’s sales on the local market are expected to increase by around 20%, to over 26,000 units, according to Romcar representatives. “Out of the 26,000 units expected to sell this year, around 20% will be accounted for by commercial vehicles,” Dragos Magdalina, Romcar’s sales manager, told ZF. Romcar representatives forecast an increase in the share held by fleet vehicle sales to 30% of overall sales, against 26% last year. In a 390,000-unit car market, Ford’s market share is expected to increase to 6.7% this year, from the 5.9% share held in 2007. Ford ranked fourth among imported brands in terms of the number of cars sold last year, with the top three positions held by Renault, Volkswagen, and Skoda. According to APIA statistics, the most popular Ford model in 2007 was the Fiesta, a B-segment model, which sold 6,793 units, followed by the Focus, with almost 6,745 units.