Dacia has sold over 194,000 cars in 2008

Romanian carmaker Dacia, the local unit of French Renault, reported a 17.1% increase in global sales, to 194,165 units, in the first nine months of the year, compared with 165,834 units in the same period a year ago, according to data offered by Renault.

Of total sales, 181,081 vehicles were sold in the January-September period, up 15.4% on year, and 8,925 light commercial vehicles were sold during the same period, up 46.6% on year.

Renault Group's market share in Romania decreased by 4.2 percentage points late Sept, to 34.4% from 38.6%.

Dacia sold 69,735 cars in Romania in the first nine months of the year, down 10.6% from 74,818 units in the same period a year ago.

Dacia's share on the local car market reached 27.1% on Sept 30.

Romania is Renault's seventh largest market in terms of sales, with 88,321 units sold in the first three quarters of 2008.