15 years ago, when they took the Dacia – Mioveni factory, the French from Renault were regarded as mere dreamers. Who would have believed then that the Romanian national car, once regarded as one of the least reliable auto vehicles in the world, would become Dacia: A Successful Story?
A Cinderella among European cars, Dacia was actually biding its time, waiting to be discovered by the French Prince (Renault), garbed in a ball gown (new body and design) and restored to its rightful place as Princess (technically speaking, reliable, efficient car, a name on the European market). One of the best selling cars of the Old Continent, successfully competing on the demanding markets in France, UK and Germany, Dacia has come such a long way, that “it almost closed the gap from the rest of the factories of the Renault Group”, according to Nicolas Maure, general manager and president of the administration council of Automobile Dacia, as cited in Business Magazin.
Against all odds, Dacia has beaten all the records, starting 2014 with another production record: 342.610 assembled cars throughout the last year, 16% more than the year before. The Symbol model, also produced under the Renault brand, has registered a record number of assembled and sold cars after its production was moved to Romania from Turkey.
Nicolas Maure wished to underline his hope of bringing the Mioveni factory at the top of the Renault-Nissan Alliance factories and of producing premium class vehicles, such as Renault Megane. The Renault Group is also presently collaborating with engineers from the German group Daimler, working to build a Smart-Twingo platform. There is presently no concrete contract between Romania and Daimler, but this possibility does exist.
Meanwhile, on the Romanian market, as well as in the rent a car sector, Dacia Logan, Dacia Sandero and Dacia Duster are clearly leaders, surprising the public with cars that are better and better equipped and affordable. A low cost car is also welcome on the international market, especially since the world is just beginning to recover from the economic crisis of the past years.