Car manufacturing in Romania experiences a 6% decrease during the initial five months of 2025, marked by a recovery in May alone.
Romania's car production has experienced a 6% year-on-year decrease in the January–May 2025 period, totalling 231,181 vehicles, according to data from the Romanian Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACAROM). This decline occurred despite a significant rebound in May, with output rising 20% compared to the same month last year [1].
The main reasons for the year-to-date decline can be attributed to differences in production trends at Romania's two key car assembly plants.
At **Dacia’s Mioveni plant**, production decreased by 11% during the first five months of 2025, resulting in 129,238 units assembled in that period [1]. In May alone, the plant produced 26,854 vehicles, a 3% decrease compared to May 2024 [1].
On the other hand, **Ford Otosan’s Craiova facility** recorded a modest 1% production increase for the same period, producing a total of 101,943 vehicles in the January-May 2025 period [1]. In May 2025, the Craiova plant showed a more substantial growth, with a 63% year-on-year production increase, resulting in 24,340 vehicles produced [1].
This significant increase at the Ford Otosan plant in Craiova largely drove the monthly growth in vehicle production in May 2025, accounting for 47.5% of the total monthly vehicle production in Romania [1]. However, the strong May rebound was not enough to offset the overall decline in production for the January-May 2025 period.
In May 2025, Romanian factories produced a total of 51,194 vehicles, with the Craiova plant leading the way [1]. Despite the impressive growth, the decline in production at the Mioveni plant continues to have a significant impact on Romania's overall car production figures.
[1] Data from the Romanian Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACAROM)
The decline in Romania's car production during the January–May 2025 period can be linked to decreased production at Dacia’s Mioveni plant, where unit assembly fell by 11%. Conversely, the Ford Otosan’s Craiova facility exhibited a production increase of 63% in May 2025, significantly contributing to the monthly growth in vehicle production in Romania and indicating a distinction between the two key car assembly plants in the country's automotive industry, as well as highlighting the role of finance, transportation, and manufacturing in such industry trends.
