ACAROM: “The possible suspension of the RABLA 2025 program would have a disastrous impact”

The Romanian Automobile Manufacturers Association – ACAROM is “deeply concerned” about the possibility of a partial or total suspension of the RABLA 2025 edition program.

“We consider that the statements regarding the lack of opportunity of the RABLA program are unfounded and unsustainable, doing nothing but bringing even more uncertainty to a turbulent and strongly declining market.

In an extremely volatile economic-industrial context, of a profound transformation of the automotive sector both from the point of view of the industry but also of the vehicle market at the level of the European Union and implicitly of Romania, stopping or eliminating programs to support the sale of new, more efficient, safer and less polluting motor vehicles is a huge mistake that will bring Romania losses that will be difficult to recover,” a release from ACAROM shows.

In the first 5 months of 2025, the automotive market for new vehicles sold to individuals is down 26% compared to the same period in 2024, the main cause being the delay in the launch of the RABLA 2025 program, while the import of used vehicles (mostly untaxed) increased by over 30%, their average age being over 8 years. Thus, the ratio between new and used vehicles registered in Romania reached 1 to 3, negatively contributing to the aging of the national car fleet – the current average age being 15.4 years.

The delay (it is already the most delayed edition) or cancellation of the launch of the RABLA program for vehicles will implicitly lead to: the delay or cancellation of the collection of considerable revenues to the state budget, the negative financial effect caused by the accumulation of pending orders, additional costs for purchasing customers due to the evolution of the exchange rate and the increase in financing costs, and especially endanger thousands of jobs in the automotive sector, as well as the failure to achieve objectives such as:

• Recovering new car sales and supporting the national automotive industry;

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by replacing old and polluting vehicles;

• Stimulating the economy by increasing demand in the automotive sector.

ACAROM says that the new vehicle business in Romania also needs predictability, and that the RABLA program was discussed, agreed upon and supported by all political forces in Romania that have been in government since 2005 until now.