1. Dacia in brief
- Start of industrial operations: 1943
- Share capital: 685,138,874,000 lei (on 31/12/98)
- Workforce: 14,114 people (on 31/12/99)
- Key figures (in 1998):
Total production: 106,002 vehicles
Total sales: 105,718 vehicles
Sales In Romania: 104,358 vehicles
Exports: 1,360 vehicles
Revenues: 3,465 billion lei
- Description of operations:
Production and marketing of passenger and light commercial
vehicles, as well corresponding sub-assemblies, equipment and
replacement parts.
The vehicle and component manufacturing plant is situated
at Colibasi, in the Argep region, 120 km north-west of
Bucharest.
Seven Dacia subsidiaries form this industrial base:
- Dacla Powertrain S.A. (gearbox, transmission, clutch and
axle assembly)
- Dacia Engine S. A. (engine production)
- Dacia Tooling S.A. (tooling repairs and manufacturing of
corresponding replacement parts)
- Dacia Dies S.A. (production of dies)
- Dacia Machine-tools S.A. (production of machine-tools)
- Dacia Transport S.A. (transport of products and
personnel)
- Dacia Services S. A. (site security and canteen
services)
Automobile Dacia S.A. also possesses an R&D Center
(CESAR), equipped for product design, prototype creation,
testing and internal/international homologation.
The Dacia distribution network consists of 139
distributors and covers the whole of Romania. The majority of
these points also provide warranty and post-warranty
after-sales services. The after-sales network consists of 170
service points, run by companies with which Automobile Dacia
S.A. has concluded a representation contract.
Dacia exports to more than 20 countries through 23
dealers. The main export zones are South America, Central and
Eastern Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and China.
In 1966, construction of the Pitesti Automobile Factory
began.
Following a cooperation agreement signed August 20, 1968
with Renault, the first touring car produced in Romania left
the factory. This model, the Dacia 1100, was based on a license
for the Renault 8.
1969 saw the start of production of the Dacia 1300 saloon,
under a Renault 12 license, followed in 1970 by the estate
version. These vehicles were originally assembled from imported
components; gradually, these parts were produced locally.
Exports of touring cars began in 1971, reaching a total of
642,247 vehicles exported to 63 countries by the end of 1998.
The product range has broadened over the years: the first
LCV (Lucia 1302 pick up) was launched in 1975. 1988 saw the
production of the first five door model (Dacia 1320). In 1992,
the Dacia 1307, the first five-seat LCV, rolled out of the
factory. And then, in 1995, the crowning glory of the company's
achievements, with the launch of the first 100 percent Romanian
designed touring car: the Dacia Nova 523, followed a year later
by the Dacia Nova 524. These two models are produced entirely
in Romania.
3. Current situation
In 1997, Dacia broke for the first time the threshold of
100,000 units annual production.
Thirty years after the first touring car, the 2,000,000th
car rolled off the line in 1998. The same year, the plant
received ISO 9001 certification for its quality assurance
system.
Dacia's current range comprises seven models: Dacia 1310
saloon, Dacia 1310 estate, Dacia 1304 pick up, Dacia 1304
Drop-Side, Dacia 1304 King Cab, Dacia 1307 Double Cab and the
Dacia Nova 524.
Amongst others, objectives for 1999 are:
- improvement in product and service quality in order to
better respond to customer demands;
- reinforcement of the competitiveness of the range;
- increase in production and sales volume to over 100,000
vehicles;
- adaptation of company objectives to the strategic
program after privatization.
4. Product and technology news
The successive presentation of the models produced by
Automobile Dacia S.A. is an eloquent testament to the company's
technical progress.
After the assembly of the Dacie 1100 and 1300 saloons,
followed by the 1310 estate in 1970, the factory converted to
LCV production in 1975: initially with the 1302, later followed
by the 1304 and 1305. The LCV range expanded with the addition
of the 1304 King Cab, 1307 Double Cat and 1309 Double Cab
models.
The Dacia 1320, the first five door vehicle in the range,
vitas launched in 1988, followed two years later by the Dacia
1325 Liberta.
The first model to be fully designed and produced in
Romania, the 2 litre Nova 523, appeared in 1995, followed by
the 2.5 litre Nova 524 in 1996.
During this period, new technologies were introduced to
improve product quality and productivity in the factory:
- digitally-controlled machines;
- Computer Aided Design;
- a new stamping system for body assembly;
- power-assisted heat treatment ovens.
Automobile Dacia S.A. ie committed to environmental
quality and, on this level, participates in the national
program. The same care is applied to environmental protection
as the finished product. In this respect, measures have been
taken to gradually eliminate polluting raw materials, replace
obsolete processes and recycle useful waste.
To guard against air pollution and preserve the
environment, Dacia has equipped its vehicles with
anti-pollution systems in line with Euro II standards.
Production will gradually evolve to conform with emission
control measures In force In Western Europe.
5. Awards
In 1993, 1997 and lg98, Automobile Decia S.A. was classed
as the leading large national company, a ranking established by
the Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
In 1996, Dacia was awarded the prize of the Association of
Romanian Scientists for the production of the first entirely
Romanian touring car.
In 1997, Dacia won the teams' title in the National Rally
Championship.
In 1998, in a competition for the production of a working
and efficient model, Automobile Dacia S.A. won first prize for
its Dacia Nova project in the Models category.
In 1998, at SAB'98 (Bucharest Auto Show), Dacia was
awarded the ProMotor prize, which rewards the best Romanian
automobile manufacturer.