This decline is primarily due to a significant reduction in EV adoption, triggered by cuts to government subsidies, which led to market uncertainty.

A survey of Romanian EV drivers shows that only 40% charge their vehicles at home, one of the lowest rates globally. This places additional strain on the public network, with 60% of drivers deeming it insufficient and nearly half complaining about long charging times. Despite this, 75% of respondents remain interested in purchasing an EV, citing low total running costs and maintenance as key motivators.

Szabolcs Nemes, Managing Partner at Roland Berger Romania, said: "The transition to electric mobility in Romania is at a turning point. While the reduction in subsidies has slowed short-term demand for electric vehicles, the expanding infrastructure and maturing charging ecosystem indicate a potential for a restart of growth, conditioned on adequate investment and government support."

After a record year in 2023 with over 15,000 full-electric vehicles sold, the market contracted by a third in 2024, with sales falling to approximately 10,000 units. 

Dacia maintained its lead with 3,263 Spring units sold, despite a 50% drop, while Tesla's sales fell by 20% to 2,550 units. This highlights the market's high dependency on state support, especially given the limited range of affordable models available.

Despite the challenges, the country's charging infrastructure continues to expand, exceeding 4,500 points—a 33% increase from 2023. However, achieving the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) target of 22,400 points by 2026 remains a significant challenge.