The Romanian car market in January 2026: decreases across the board, from new to used cars

Romanian auto market under the brakes of uncertainty: Drastic drop of 33% in January 2026

The year 2026 started with a warning signal for the Romanian automotive industry. After an effervescent end to 2025, the first month of the new year brought an unexpected cooling of the appetite for purchases, amid important fiscal changes and an economic climate marked by caution.

According to the latest data provided by the Romanian Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACAROM), new car registrations reached a volume of only 7,927 units in January 2026, which represents a brutal decrease of 33.5% compared to the same period last year.

The "green" and second-hand segments are losing momentum

Electrified cars have not escaped the downward trend either. In January 2026, Romanians registered only 974 electric cars, a decrease of 16.3% compared to January 2025. This slowdown comes at a time when government subsidies have undergone changes and financing costs remain high. The hybrid segment, which in 2025 had been the "star" of the market, also registered a decline of 12.1%, with a total of 4,642 units.

The second-hand car market followed the same direction, although with less intensity. The volume of second-hand vehicle registrations was 25,985 units, down 5.63% compared to the beginning of the previous year. This trend suggests a general reluctance on the part of consumers, probably influenced by the new tax scales that came into force on January 1, 2026, which penalize pollution norms more severely.

Top 10 brands in January 2026: BYD surprise

Although the market is declining, the hierarchy of manufacturers brings interesting news. Dacia remains the undisputed leader, but volumes are far from the records of past years. The big surprise of the month comes from China: BYD managed to enter the Top 10 for the first time, consolidating its position as a relevant player on the local electric and hybrid market.

Here is the ranking of the top 10 brands by number of new units registered:

Rank	Brand	Units Registered (January 2026)
1	Dacia	1,442
2	Toyota	764
3	Skoda	690
4	Volkswagen	621
5	Mercedes-Benz	422
6	Hyundai	390
7	BMW	385
8	Ford	376
9	BYD	312
10	Renault	255

Why this decrease?

Analysts point to several factors for this "cold shower":

• Tax changes: Introduction of the new car taxation system that places more emphasis on the pollution norm (Euro) than on engine capacity.
• Waiting for the Rubbish Program: Many potential buyers are postponing their purchase until the official launch of the new year's financing sessions.
• Stockouts: Many deliveries were forced into December 2025, emptying dealers' inventories and "cannibalizing" January sales.

It remains to be seen whether this decrease is just a beginning-of-the-year anomaly or an indicator of a more difficult 2026 for the national auto industry.

Looking ahead: What does the beginning of the year tell us about the rest of 2026?

Although the January figures seem discouraging at first glance, they do not necessarily signal a collapse, but rather a profound rebalancing of the market. The year 2026 promises to be a transitional one, in which the behavior of the Romanian buyer will change radically under the pressure of European norms and new technologies.

The conclusions we can draw for the rest of the year are:

• The irreversible rise of Asian brands: BYD's presence in the top 10 is just the "tip of the iceberg". We can expect that, throughout the year, Chinese brands will put immense pressure on prices in the electric and hybrid segment, forcing traditional European manufacturers to recalibrate their commercial offers.
• Pragmatism instead of impulsiveness: The decline in the second-hand market indicates that Romanians are no longer buying “anything, anyway.” Maintenance costs and new pollution taxes make old cars a financial burden, steering the public towards more sustainable mobility solutions or operational leasing.
• Dacia under siege, but resilient: Although a leader, Dacia will need to accelerate deliveries of affordable electrified models to maintain its market share in the face of new competition.

In conclusion, 2026 will be the year in which efficiency will matter more than brand. The Romanian auto market is forcibly maturing, moving from an era of volumes based on used cars to an era of technology and long-term cost optimization. If January was a "brake", the months to come will most likely represent a change of gear towards a younger and cleaner car fleet.