Romania’s car registration market experienced a dramatic reversal at the start of 2026, with the latest data showing a steep year-over-year decline. In January 2026, car registrations fell by 33.50% compared with January a year earlier, according to figures updated on 24 February 2026.
This marks a sharp contrast to the previous month’s performance. In December 2025, car registrations had surged 54.40% year-over-year, highlighting how quickly momentum in the sector has shifted. Both figures are calculated on a year-over-year basis, comparing each month’s registrations to the same month in the prior year.
The abrupt move from strong growth in December to a significant contraction in January underscores increased volatility in Romania’s automotive market as 2026 gets under way, and may prompt closer monitoring by industry participants and policymakers.
