Romania 2004: Dacia Solenza repeats at #1, Logan launches in record market

The Dacia Logan hits 33% share for its launch month in September 2004.

May 2020 update: Now with Top 50 All-brands and Top 290 All-models.

It’s a record year for Romanian new car sales in 2004, up a very impressive 33.2% year-on-year to 176.128 units, smashing the previous record of 139.867 from 1998. Thanks to a providential launch (see further down), Dacia (+38.3%) manages to outpace its galloping hole market to bottom out its share up to 45.4%. Daewoo (+16.6%) drops to 15.5% and Renault (+19.4%) to 6.9% but Peugeot (+51.1%) is up two spots to a record #4 and Fiat (+61.9%), Ford (+44.1%) and Opel (+34.7%) also outpace the market in th remainder of the Top 10.

2004 is a very significant year in Romanian automotive history: it’s the year of the launch of the Dacia Logan. And we at BSCB can share with you an exclusive insight into the launch at home of what would become a true global phenomenon: we have a Top 10 models for the 9 months 2004 that show the very first volume by the Logan, instantly achieving 33% share in September. It would end the year in 3rd place.

The Dacia Solenza repeats at #1 in 2004.

The Dacia Solenza (+34.7%) indeed manages a second and last year as the annual best-seller at home at a stable 17.8% share and the Daewoo Matiz (+21.2%) holds onto a record #2. The Logan comes at #3 with 11.5% share, 31 sales above the Dacia Pickup (+20%) at 11.5% also, while the Dacia Clasic (-41.2%) drops to #5 as its production ended in July 2004 after 35 years. The Renault Megane (+38.9%) is back to #1 import at #7 overall above the Renault Clio (-2.3%).

Full Year 2004 Top 50 All-brands and Top 290 All-models below.

Full 9 months 2004 Top 10 models below.