Romanian Car Brands

Romanian Car Brands

In Romania, the automotive industry is growing by leaps and bounds. During the communist regime, it was one of the most advanced in Central Europe. But after 1989, the automotive industry went into decline: many enterprises went bankrupt due to failed privatizations. Among them were Oltcit, ARO, Tractorul Braşov. At that time, foreign automakers entered the market and showed interest in establishing their subsidiaries.

What are Romanian automobile brands?

This European country has its own authentic automotive brands: Ford Romania, Roman Braşov, Igero, Automobile Dacia, Astra Bus, Cibro, DAC, El Car, and Grivbuz. Inactive automakers include ARO, Oltcit, Rocar, Automobile Craiova, Malaxa, and AA&WF.

Romania is a country with a developed automotive industry. It has both old enterprises, formed at the beginning of the last century, and young ones, formed in the 21st century. Both groups are successfully engaged in the production of in-demand transportation equipment. Among them, there are companies specializing only in passenger cars (Dacia), and there are also companies focused on large-capacity special vehicles. For example, bus production is very popular in the region – El Car and Astra Bus represent it.

Active Manufacturers

Romania is a country with a developed automotive industry. It has both old enterprises, formed at the beginning of the last century, and young ones, formed in the 21st century. Both groups are engaged in the successful manufacture of demanded transport equipment. Among them, firms specialize only in passenger cars (Dacia), and companies also focus on large-tonnage special equipment. For example, bus production is very popular in the region – it is represented by El Car and Astra Bus.

Astra Bus

Astra Bus Logo

The full name of this company is Astra Bus. It directly indicates that it is a manufacturer of buses and other large-sized vehicles. The brand appeared in Romania in the city of Arad in 1996. Until then, it was part of the company Astra Vagoane Arad, which produced railroad cars. Having separated from the parent company, the new structure changed specialization and actively engaged in passenger transportation equipment.

In 2003, Astra became part of the Cefin holding group. Simultaneously with the legal status, it revised its assortment, significantly expanding it. Now, its plant assembles Irisbus buses and trolleybuses (within the framework of a partnership with the Italian company). In addition, minibusses based on Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and Iveco chassis are produced on a small scale.

Cibro

Cibro Logo

This is a trademark of the Bucharest-based company C&I Eurotrans XXI, which has been operating in the Romanian capital since 2002. It produces bodies for minicars based on the chassis of world manufacturers. In particular, Cibro is a minibus built on the Mercedes-Benz Vario platform. It is presented in several modifications in terms of comfort level. A total of four lines with a capacity of 23 to 30 passenger seats are produced.

In 2010, another version of the minibus, called Cibro 2, was launched. It is assembled at another Romanian enterprise – in the village of Manolache, Ilfov County. It is a new plant with innovative equipment and is ISO9001 certified.

DAC

DAC Logo

The name of this Romanian company stands for Diesel Auto Camion, which means that it produces dump trucks and trucks. The company is located in the city of Brasov and belongs to the specialized company ROMAN, which made it a division with a separate trademark. Equipment of this brand has been produced since the 1970s. In 1990, the company was transferred to the status of a subsidiary brand.

But the roots of the company go even deeper into history, as the automobile plant has existed since 1921: before the Second World War – under the name of ROMLOC, after – The Red Flag (Steagul Rosu). What’s more, DAC uses the same proprietary platform as the Roma trucks for its entire lineup.

Dacia

Dacia Logo

The full name of this automaker is Automobile Dacia S.A. It is named after the historical area that modern Romania occupies. The company is located in Mioveni, Arges County, where it was founded in 1966. After 33 years (in 1999), the national government sold it to Groupe Renault, turning it into a successful division.

In terms of revenue share, Dacia is Romania’s largest company today, making a significant contribution to the country’s economy. It exports cars of the same name to almost all countries of the world, which are in great demand. Since 2021, this manufacturer has been part of Renault Dacia-Lada.

El Car

El Car Logo

A manufacturing company engaged in the production of urban and intercity buses of the Igero brand. Located in Bucharest, where its Romprim plant is located. The founder of the company is engineer Dorian Igescu, who named the brand after his surname. El Car’s foundation was in 2003 when the future owner of a large automobile company assembled the first bus right in his garage. For a long time, the company has been cooperating with a specialized company, Roman.

Ford Romania

Ford Romania Logo

This is an automobile manufacturer located in Craiova and managed by Ford of Europe. At first, production occupied the premises of the former Oltcit plant, then moved to the Daewoo Motors site, which Ford bought from the country’s management in 2008. In September 2009, the company began production of two types of vehicles: Ford Transit Connect and Ford B-Max.

Grivbuz

Grivbuz Logo

The joint-stock company Compania Industrială Griviţa is a manufacturer of medium-sized buses called Grivbuz. It is located in the town of Chitila, Ilfov County. The company was founded in 1993, and in 1997, it started producing prototypes of medium-sized buses. Now, the company is engaged in the production of tourist buses of its own brand and engines.

ROMAN

ROMAN Logo

This is a well-known Romanian manufacturer of transportation equipment located in the city of Brasov. It was founded in 1921 and for several decades carried the name ROMLOC. In 1948, the company was renamed Red Flag (Steagul Roșu), then Brasov Truck Works (Intreprinderea de Autocamioane Brașov), and in 1990, ROMAN SA. The company actively maintains cooperation with other Romanian enterprises and has its own trademark – DAC. Its range includes large-capacity vehicles: dump trucks, tractors, and military trucks.

Defunct Manufacturers

This group of automakers is represented by companies that self-liquidated as a result of expansion, merger, or, on the contrary, split into two independent units. The most prominent examples are AA&WF, Oltcit, Automobile Craiova, and some other manufacturers.

ARO

ARO Logo

The Romanian manufacturer of off-road vehicles was called Auto Romania, abbreviated as ARO. The automobile plant was located in the municipality of Câmpulung and was opened in 1942. However, the production of cars began later – after the completion of major construction of the plant in 1957. The company produced military vehicles and SUVs, which were supplied to the domestic market and abroad. In other countries, the cars were sold under different brands. In 2006, the plant was closed due to bankruptcy.

OltcitOltcit Logo

The Romanian car manufacturer was a joint venture created by the country’s leadership and Citroën. It was located in Craiova in the Oltenia region. The company’s main range consisted of two hatchback series: the Citroën Axel and the Oltcit Club. After Citroën’s departure, the company changed its name to Automobile Craiova. After signing a partnership agreement with Daewoo Heavy Industries, it changed its name to Rodae Automobile. It was later replaced by Daewoo Automobile Romania. In 2008, the plant came under the control of Ford of Europe and was renamed Ford Romania. The Oltcit joint-stock company ceased to exist in 1991.

Rocar

Rocar Logo

This company was formed in Bucharest in 1951. It was engaged in the production of a wide range of vehicles. Its range included cars, commercial vans, trolleybuses, city and intercity buses, small trucks, and minibusses. Later, the company began to produce light SUVs and heavy road vehicles. In 2004, it ceased operations.

Automobile Craiova

The former joint stock company was located in Craiova, where it produced passenger cars since 1976. At that time, the company was called Oltcit and was almost equally owned by the Romanian government and Citroën. After the French manufacturer withdrew from the partnership, the plant was renamed Automobile Craiova. It was later acquired by the American automobile giant Ford Motor Company, establishing a subsidiary, Ford Romania.

Malaxa

This was the name of the car developed by a group of engineers under the leadership of Petre I. Carp. The passenger car appeared in 1945 when there was an urgent need to convert military vehicles into civilian ones. Prototypes were produced at several aircraft factories in the country. Among them were ASAM Cotroceni and IAR Brașov. The project was financially supported by the industrialist Nicolae Malaxa, after whom the car was named. It is not known how many models were produced. The brand ceased to exist when representatives of the Soviet Union wanted to move the Moscow technology site.

AA&WF

This company was founded in 1921 after the collapse of Austria-Hungary. At that time, its two companies located in Romania merged into one. They formed the ASTRA Automobile & Waggon Factory group, the name of which was shortened to the abbreviation AA&WF. Later, the transportation equipment manufacturers separated from each other again and legally formed their own production sites.

Aurel Persu

Aurel Persu Logo

The automobile brand was named after the developer of a drop-shaped passenger car with improved aerodynamic drag characteristics. The company, which existed in the early 20th century, managed to build only a few models, after which it went into decline due to large-scale competition. Its products were decorated with a metal logo with a rectangular frame, which placed a stylized name of the founder of the company. The inscription on the Aurel Persu emblem was made in bold letters with smooth curves and a slant to the right.

Lastun

Lastun Logo

This car brand was owned by Dacia and was launched in 1988. It existed until 1991 and supplied the Romanian market with three-door hatchbacks for urban driving. The Lastun logo was a circular badge in a double ring with a triangle in the middle. It was a futuristic figure made up of wide curved stripes, with the name of the city where the company was located surrounding it.

What cars are made in Romania?

In Romania, there are factories producing cars of foreign and domestic brands. Current manufacturers: Astra, Cibro, DAC, Dacia, El Car, Ford Romania, Grivbuz, ROMAN. And the German group of companies Robert Bosch GmbH plans to manufacture electronic components for cars in this country.

What is the most popular car in Romania?

Dacia cars are at the peak of sales in Romania. They have not yielded leadership to other brands for several years. In 2021, the first place is taken by the Dacia Logan, the second by the Duster, and the third by the Sandero.

Is it a Romanian car manufacturer?

Yes, Romania has several own car manufacturers, and the most famous of them is Automobile Dacia S.A. – business unit Renault Dacia-Lada.

Are cars cheap in Romania?

There are both cheap and expensive cars in Romania. One of the budget but good brands is Dacia Logan, which starts at 7,700 euros. It is called an alternative to the expensive Nissan Versa.