Romania’s automotive sector remained heavily entrenched in the secondary market in 2025, with used imports outpacing new vehicle sales by a wide margin and diesel engines maintaining a stronghold despite broader European shifts toward electrification.
Total car registrations in Romania reached 548,612 units in 2025, as the market is driven by affordability and availability, rather than the rapid adoption of new technologies seen in Western markets, a new Plus-Auto study shows.
The disparity between new and used vehicles remains the defining characteristic of the Romanian fleet. Used cars accounted for 71.47% of all registrations, and new cars comprised just 28.53% of the total volume.
This heavy reliance on the secondary market has solidified Volkswagen’s position as the dominant manufacturer on Romanian roads. The German brand captured 27% of the total market share, representing over 148,000 units, with the Volkswagen Golf identified as the preferred model among buyers.
While Volkswagen leads in total volume due to imports, local manufacturer Dacia remains the clear choice for buyers of brand-new vehicles. Dacia recorded 41,598 new registration, a 29.29% of the new car market. Statistically, nearly one in three new cars leaving Romanian dealerships in 2025 was a Dacia.
Diesel holdouts and the slow EV climb
Perhaps the most striking divergence from Western European trends is the powertrain mix. Despite regulatory pressure to decarbonize, Romanian drivers continue to favor diesel.
| Powertrain Type | Units Registered | Market Share |
| Diesel | 262,553 | 48.00% |
| Petrol | 128,896 | 23.50% |
| Hybrid (Full) | 102,229 | 18.64% |
| LPG | 25,064 | 4.56% |
| Hybrid (Plugin) | 15,727 | 2.86% |
| Electric (EV) | 13,191 | 2.40% |
The post Romania’s auto market heavily reliant on used imports and diesel in 2025 appeared first on Bucharest Daily News.