The Romanian auto market receives a boost: new car sales increased by 35% in November

Romanians bought more new cars: 35% increase in November

The Romanian auto market recorded a notable surprise in November 2025. According to data published by the Romanian Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACAROM), new car registrations experienced a meteoric increase of 35.61% compared to the same month of the previous year.

This growth comes as a breath of fresh air, managing to temper the pace of decline recorded throughout the year.

November, Record Month of Growth

In the eleventh month of the year, Romanians bought a total of 13,882 new cars. This volume represents a remarkable performance, especially in the context of a market that had a difficult start to the year. Market sources suggest that this revival could be a result of accelerated deliveries, aggressive year-end promotional campaigns, but also of a possible "catch-up" effect after the postponement or adjustment of government subsidy programs, such as Rabla and Rabla Plus, which created uncertainty in previous quarters.

Balance Sheet at 11 Months: The Decline Has Moderated

Although the advance in November is impressive, it was not enough to bring the market up for the entire period January - November 2025. With a total of 135,491 new cars registered, the market remains in negative territory, recording a slight decrease of 1.3% compared to the similar period in 2024. However, this figure marks a significant improvement compared to the decrease of over 4% recorded at the end of October.

If the positive trend continues in December, there is a real chance that the market will end the year with volumes comparable to or even slightly above those of 2024.

Major Trend: Hybrids Lead, Electrics Falter

The analysis by propulsion type reveals an obvious structural change:

• Detached Leader: Hybrids. Cars with hybrid engines (HEV and PHEV) dominate the ranking, totaling 66,512 units sold in the first 11 months, registering an increase of approximately 25.6% compared to 2024. They have become the preferred choice of Romanians, offering a balance between efficiency and unrestricted autonomy.
• Declining Thermal Segment: Classic engines, especially gasoline and diesel, continue to lose ground at an accelerated rate. Gasoline registered 31,266 units, while Diesel collapsed to just 11,603 units, both segments registering a decrease of approximately 30% compared to the previous year.
• The rise of LPG: Dual-fuel cars (gasoline-LPG) performed strongly, with 18,614 units sold, confirming consumer interest in economical alternatives.
• Electric Vehicles (BEV): Although there were spectacular increases in certain months (for example, an 86% advance in October, according to APIA), over the 11 months as a whole, sales of 100% electric cars reached 7,495 units, suffering a decline of over 11% compared to 2024, a year strongly influenced by generous subsidies. Uncertainties related to Rabla Plus and the reduction of subsidies negatively influenced this segment, despite the fact that Chinese brands began to gain market share.

Top Manufacturers: Dacia Remains Undefeated

In the brand ranking, Dacia consolidates its position as market leader, followed by Asian manufacturers renowned for their hybrid and electric portfolio:

The Second Hand Market Continues to Attract

In contrast to the volatility of the new car segment, the market for used cars registered for the first time in Romania continues to grow steadily. In November 2025, 31,959 units were registered, an increase of 11.43% compared to November 2024.

During the 11 months, the second-hand market totaled 330,557 cars, recording a 10.46% increase compared to the same period of the previous year. This trend indicates that, despite efforts to renew the car fleet, the high price of new cars and economic uncertainty maintain Romanians' interest in used vehicles.