I observed  since a few time the romanian market, I can give you some important advices. If you want to know them, please join me.

Up to 1990, the market was lead by Dacia, a local producer. Imports were not allowed, and Dacia was obsolete. It was a huge appetit for other cars, other brands. It should only be different.

Amazingly, the japan cars had not bit a lot from this market. Well established brands are VW and its subsidiary Skoda, which owe their succes to a simple fact: they developped a chain of retailers and authorized service in advance( or simultaneously, if you want). This was the major advantage.

New, unknown financial services came as an ultimative plus: leasing, insurances etc. As a new comer in the European Union, Romania was a major target for big financial groups, such as UNIQA, WIENER STADTISCHE, GENERALI etc. They supported also the european brands, familiar since many years.

Another interesting particular fact: hybrids are not wished yet in Romania, people simply do not trust them! There is still a lot of place for classics, even japanese!

So, if you are a sales manager in a car making company, keep in mind my advices:

-invest in image and publicity

-invest in maintenance chain. But do not neglect the distribution chains!

-the market is at its top, I think it will shrink 10 % this year

Wish you good luck in penetrating the romanian market. It is not a huge market, but has some potential to grow within next years.