Romania's new car registrations were 19.4% up in December 2024 compared to the same month in 2023, while the green car segment jumped 25.1% over the entire year, shows data from the Driving Licenses and Vehicle Registration Directorate General, processed by the Association of Automobile Manufacturers and Importers.
According to statistics, overall, December 2024 saw a 23.9% increase in vehicle registrations compared to the same month of 2023, as well as a 40% increase compared to November 2024.
Registrations in passenger cars (which account for approximately 80% of the total market) stood at 13,386 units this December, up 19.4% year-over-year.
Class A vehicles hold the top position with a 41.5% increase from one year to another, followed by Class B (+39.8%), Class C (+31.4%), Class D (-19.5%), Class E (+21.6%), Class F (-17.5%) and SUVs (+8%).
According to all-year statistics, the SUV segment is on the leading position with a market share of 48.6% and a 15% increase compared to 2023, followed by the C class (market share of 29% and a 4% increase) and the B class (market share of 14% and a 9.8% decrease).
By the fuel type of the registered cars, gasoline-powered cars plus mild hybrids advanced 22% in December compared to the similar period in 2023 to a total share of 58.8%. Cars equipped with diesel and mild hybrid engines dropped 23.7% year-over-year to a total share of 9.2%.
Electrified cars, respectively fully electric cars and plug-in hybrids, as well as full hybrid ones (that don't need to be plugged in to charge) hit a market share of 32% in December, which tops by 22.8% the share held by diesel engines.
For the entire year 2024, this car segment's market share was 25.1%, 11.3% more than diesel plus mild hybrid diesel engines.
At the same time, fully electric cars had a 6.5% market share compared to 10.7% in 2023, while plug-in hybrids held a 4.3% market share, compared to 3.8% a year ago.
Last year, the best-selling electric cars were Dacia Spring with 3,263 units (down 52.5% compared to 2023), Tesla Model 3 (with 1,679 units, +64.3%), and Tesla Model Y (846 units, -59.3%).
In the plug-in category, the sales ranking is led by Ford Kuga (593 units, -17.6% compared to 2023), Toyota RAV4 (with 500 units, +29.9%) and Hyundai Tucson (483 units, +27.4%).
In the category of hybrid cars that do not need recharging from external sources the top positions in 2024 are held by the Toyota Corolla model with 3,281 units (up 52.3% compared to 2023), followed by Toyota RAV4 (2,361 units, +56.5%) and Toyota Yaris Cross (2,361 units, +20.7%).
Registrations of light commercial vehicles and minibuses recorded a combined increase of 23.4% in 2024.
On the other hand, electric light commercial vehicles reached in 2024 a volume of 552 units, having jumped 38.3% year-over-year.
Registrations of heavy commercial vehicles and buses dropped 7.9 percent, with 16+ tonne heavy commercial vehicles and tractors recording a setback of 7.2%.