BUCHAREST, Jan 6 (AFP) - The Romanian automaker Dacia said Thursday that 2004 sales had soared by 38.6 percent from a year earlier, adding that it had delivered or received orders for 40,000 of its Logan model designed for developing markets.
Dacia commercial director Jacques Abot told a news conference a total of 95,296 vehicles had been sold, including more than 15,000 abroad, principally in Turkey, eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Abot did not provide detailed financial results, however, saying only that Dacia, which is owned by the French group Renault, aimed to break even or turn a profit this year.
The Romanian car maker has undergone restructuring since being bought by Renault in 1999 and is pinning its hopes on the Logan, sales of which have already exceeded expectations.
Just over half of all orders for the new car were for its higher-end version, which offers a 1.6 liter gasoline (petrol) engine.
Dacia plans to roll out a 1.5-liter injected diesel version in September that is rated at 105 horsepower, but Abot said there were no plans to provide the Logan with an automatic transmission.
In response to a question regarding the car's much-touted 5,000-euro (6,650-dollar) price tag, the commercial director said such a model would be available sometime this year, but only in Romania.
Current versions, including those to be distributed in western Europe starting in September, sell for up to 8,000 euros.
Dacia held 46.5 percent of its domestic market in 2004, mainly through sales of the Logan and Solenza models along with several versions of an older utility vehicle.
01/06/2005 12:39 GMT - AFP