Romania 2003: Dacia Solenza instantly takes the lead at 17.6% share

The Dacia Solenza is the new best-seller at home.

May 2020 update: Now with Top 47 All-brands and Top 270 All-models.

New car sales in Romania score a second consecutive double-digit year-on-year gain in 2003 at +21.2% to 132.201 units, the largest annual volume since 1998. Dacia (+9.7%) continues to lose ground at 43.8% share, whereas Daewoo (+79.2%) continues to gain share at 17.7%, its highest since 1998. Renault (+11.6%) remains in third place above Skoda (+35.1%), Volkswagen (+1%) and Peugeot (+28.8%) with Ford (+47.5%) and Opel (+37.2%) catching up below.

The Daewoo Matiz is up to #2 in Romania in 2003.

After 32 years of domination by the Dacia 1310 (1969-2000) and two by the SupeRNova (2001-2002), we have another new leader in Romania: the Dacia Solenza launched this year and already atop the charts with 17.6% share. The Daewoo Matiz (+104.1%) is the first non-Dacia to manage to rank as high as #2 since the Daewoo Nexia in 1996. The Dacia Pickup (+42.2%) is just 54 units below, showing particular strength given its age, and finally outselling its sedan and break variant, the Dacia Clasic (-12.2%) relegated to #4. The Daewoo Nexia (+70.7%) rounds out the Top 5, knocking the Renault Clio (+16.2%) out just as the Dacia SupeRNova (-84.5%) is killed by the arrival of the Solenza.

Full Year 2003 Top 47 All-brands and Top 270 All-models below.