Automobile Dacia facts for kids
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Dacia stand at the 2024 Geneva International Motor Show
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | September 1966 |
| Headquarters | Bucharest, Bucharest-Ilfov Mioveni, Argeș, Romania |
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Area served
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Europe (except Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine), Algeria, Israel, Lebanon, Morocco, Overseas France and Tunisia |
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Key people
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| Products | Automobiles, commercial vehicles |
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Production output
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 314,228 (2022) |
| Revenue | 25,709 million lei (2022) |
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Operating income
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650 million lei (2022) |
| 527 million lei (2022) |
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| Total assets | 9,247 million lei (2022) |
| Total equity |  4,241 million lei (2022) |
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Number of employees
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12,209 (2022) |
| Parent | Renault |
S.C. Automobile Dacia S.A., known simply as Dacia, is a car company from Romania. Its name comes from an old region that is now Romania. The company started in 1966. In 1999, the Romanian government sold Dacia to the French car maker Groupe Renault. Dacia is Romania's biggest company by money earned and its largest exporter. In 2018, it made up 8% of all the country's exports. In 2021, Dacia sold over 537,000 cars and commercial vehicles. Since January 2021, Dacia has been part of Renault's Dacia-Lada business group.
Contents
History
The first factory in the area was built between 1942 and 1945. It was an extension of an aircraft factory called IAR. This new factory was meant to make up to 600 airplane engines each month. After World War II, the Romanian Railways took over the building. This later became the Dacia car plants.
Dacia's Early Cars
The Dacia car company began in 1966. It was first called Uzină de Autoturisme Pitești (UAP). The main Dacia factory opened in 1968 in Mioveni, near Pitești. Dacia bought the tools and designs for the Renault 12 car.
Before the tools were ready, Dacia decided to build the Renault 8 car under a special agreement. This car was called the Dacia 1100. From 1968 to 1972, Dacia made 37,546 of the 1100 model. There was also a special 1100S model. It had two headlights and a stronger engine. Police and racing drivers used this version.
The first Dacia 1300 car was finished in 1969. It was shown at car shows in Paris and Bucharest. People in Romania loved how modern and reliable the car was. There were always long waiting lists to buy one. By 1970, there were two types: the standard 1300 and the 1300L (Lux). In 1974, the 1301 Lux Super came out. It had new features like a heated back window and a radio. This special car was mostly for important people in the Romanian Communist Party.
Dacia started selling cars to other countries. In 1973, they made the 1300 Break, which was a station wagon. They also made the 1302 pick-up truck starting in 1975. About 2,000 of these were made until 1982. Dacia also built a small number of the Renault Estafette van.
In 1979, Dacia showed the new 1310 models. These cars had four headlights and a new inside look. These changes were like what Renault did to its own 12 model in 1975. The 1310 came to the Romanian market in late 1981. In the UK, it was called the Dacia Denem. It even had electric windows. The pick-up version, called the Shifter, was sold until the 1990s.
A sport model was also made. In 1980, a sports car called the Brașovia was shown. It was based on the 1310. From 1983, the two-door Dacia 1310 Sport (and later 1410 Sport) was available. These cars were very popular for car rallies.
Changes in the 1980s
Designers kept coming up with new ideas. Many were kept secret. They designed prototypes like the small 500cc Mini-Dacia. The Dacia 1310 Maxi Break was an eight-seater station wagon. It was stretched longer than the normal car. About 10 to 12 of these cars were built.
In 1982, Dacia introduced the 1304 Pick-up and Drop-side models. These were very popular and were made until December 2006. In 1985, the 1410 model came out with a bigger engine. The 1210 was a cheaper version until about 1992.
For the 1984 models, the de luxe MS and MLS cars had small changes. They had a new spoiler and bigger rubber parts around the front grille. From late 1985, all models had these new rubber parts. A five-speed gearbox also became an option.
Work also started on the 1320 CN1 model. This was a hatchback car based on the 1310. The new front of the 1320 also appeared on some special models from 1986. These cars had two big headlights and a nicer inside. The 1320 was the most expensive Dacia car when it came out in 1988. Many were used as taxis.
The 1990s and New Models
The 1320 model changed in 1991 to the Dacia 1325 Liberta. It was made until 1996. The last cars with four lamps were made in 1992. All Dacia cars then got the new front end of the 1320. Dacia tried to make its cars look more modern. The Sport model was stopped. New commercial vehicles were introduced. The 1307 was a pick-up with two rows of seats. The 1309 was a station wagon with a cover instead of a trunk. It sold very well in China.
There were also several test cars. These included a diesel station wagon and the Dacia Star. The 1308 Jumbo was a camper-van. Dacia also tried to make the 1310 look more modern by using parts from other cars.
From late 1994, Dacia focused less on improving the 1310 range. Instead, they launched a new model, the Dacia Nova. This was a compact car with a trunk or a hatchback. Its design was a bit old-fashioned because it started being developed in 1983. The Nova was a 100% Romanian design. It was not very popular at first because of problems with how reliable it was and rust. But after improvements in 1996, the Nova became more common.
In 1998, Dacia celebrated 30 years of making cars. The 2,000,000th car was made that year. This year also saw the last new look for the 1310. It was called CN4. It had a new front, new door handles, and slightly changed back mirrors. The station wagon had bigger tail lights. Even though the car was over 30 years old, it sold very well. This was because it had a low starting price and parts were easy to find.
On July 21, 2004, the last models of the 1300 series were made. This was one month before their 35th birthday. The very last Dacia 1310 car is kept in the Dacia Museum. On December 8, 2006, the utility Dacia Pick-Up also stopped being made. Romania joining the European Union meant that the old models could no longer be produced. The factories were changed to make more Dacia Logan cars.
Over 34 years, Dacia made more than 2.5 million Dacia 1300/1310 cars. This made it the most common car in Romania. Many people learned how to fix or change these cars themselves.
Joining the Renault Family
In September 1999, Dacia became part of the Renault group. Renault wanted Romania to be its main place for car development in Central and Eastern Europe. More money was invested in Dacia. The first result was in 2000, with the SupeRNova. This was an improved Nova with an engine and gearbox from Renault. The best version had air conditioning and a CD player. Sales were very good.
In 2003, a new version called the Dacia Solenza replaced the SupeRNova. It had a new interior and could have an airbag. This car was a temporary model. It was meant to fill the need for a sedan car before the important Dacia Logan was introduced. It also helped workers learn how to make cars for Western European markets. Production of the Solenza stopped in 2005.
Modern Dacia: 2004-2011
The Dacia Logan is the most successful Dacia car since the original 1300. It came out in August 2004. Even with some criticism about its design, it became one of the best-selling cars in Central and Eastern Europe. The Logan is sold in many countries, sometimes as a Renault car. It got 3 out of 5 stars in NCAP crash testing for safety. It is still the best-selling car in Romania. A diesel version was also introduced in 2005. Before it launched, it was called the "5000-Euro car" because of its expected price.
In 2006, a test car called the Logan Steppe was shown. This was a possible 4x4 station wagon version of the Logan. The actual station wagon version came out in late 2006. A van version, which was like a station wagon with no back windows, came out in February 2007.
The Renault Technologie Roumanie engineering center started in 2006 in Bucharest. It has about 2,500 engineers. They work on developing, testing, and designing new Dacia cars. The company also opened a design office in 2007.
A pick-up model and the Logan-based hatchback Sandero were launched in 2008. The Sandero was shown at the Geneva Motor Show. This was also when Dacia got a new logo. Later that year, they launched an updated Logan model.
In 2009, a new idea car called the Dacia Duster was shown. This meant Dacia planned to release an SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle). This car's platform was used for the second generation of the Logan and Sandero models, which came out in 2012.
In 2010, the Dacia Duster was shown at the Geneva Motor Show. It is the first SUV made by Dacia since Renault bought the company. It comes in 4x2 and 4x4 versions. It was released on March 18, 2010.
In September 2010, a testing center opened in Titu, Romania. It has nine types of tracks, 32 kilometers long. It also has about 100 test benches. These are used to test how well cars and parts can handle cold, heat, and rain.
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Dacia Today: 2012-Present
In 2012, the Dacia Lodgy, a new family car (MPV), was shown at the Geneva Motor Show. It is built on a new platform. It is made at a new Renault factory in Tangier, Morocco.
The Dokker, released in June 2012, is a slightly smaller family car. It is also made in Tangier. It shares the same platform as the Lodgy. It is available for passengers and as a delivery van.
In September 2012, the second versions of the Logan and Sandero were shown. They have a similar front design. They also have better safety features, a new engine, and more comfort equipment.
The next year, the updated Duster was shown. It had small changes to the front and back. It also had the new interior from the Logan and Sandero models. A new turbocharged petrol engine was added.
At the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, the second generation Duster model was introduced. It brought new comfort and technical improvements. Its size and engines stayed similar.
In September 2018, Automobile Dacia was ranked 14th among the top 500 companies in Central and Eastern Europe.
In 2020, Dacia announced it would release an electric car. They showed the Dacia Spring Electric concept car in March 2020. The Dacia Spring is expected to be the cheapest electric car in Europe.
In January 2021, Denis Le Vot became the CEO of the Dacia-Lada business unit. Renault said it would combine the Dacia and Lada brands into a new business unit. Dacia also showed a new logo. It plans to offer more types of cars.
In March 2021, the final version of the Dacia Spring EV was shown. The Spring will be sold in Europe. Updated Sandero and Logan models were also announced in late 2020. There will also be a car-sharing version called the Spring Business.
Where Dacia Cars are Made
Dacia's only factory is in Mioveni, Romania. Its main office is also there. The factory can make 350,000 cars each year. It has different parts like bodywork, painting, and assembly. It works with the Renault Technologie Roumanie engineering center in Bucharest. This center also has a design office. The testing center in Titu opened in 2010.
A large logistics center opened near the factory in March 2005. This center sends car parts (called CKD kits) to other Renault factories. These factories are in Russia, Morocco, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Iran, and India. This is said to be the biggest logistics center of its kind in the world for cars. In 2012, it sent enough parts for 920,646 cars worldwide.
Making Cars for the World
Two Dacia models, the Lodgy and the Dokker vans, are made at the Renault factory in Tangier, Morocco. The Logan and the Sandero are also made in Casablanca, Morocco. The Sandero is also made in Tangier.
Cool Tech: Easy-R Gearbox
More and more people in Europe want cars with automatic gearboxes. Renault decided to create a special automatic gearbox called Easy-R. This new gearbox uses electric and mechanical parts instead of older hydraulic ones. This makes it more reliable and cheaper. Dacia started offering this in 2015 for about 600 euros. This is much cheaper than other automatic gearboxes. It also has fewer parts, which helps with reliability and makes it easier to fix. The Easy-R gearbox has four modes: Drive, Neutral, Rear (reverse), and Manual. It uses the same amount of fuel as a manual gearbox.
How Many Cars Dacia Sells
Dacia cars are sold in most Western and Eastern European countries. They are also sold in some North African countries like Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco. Dacia started selling cars in Western Europe in the late 1970s. Its cars have also been made by Renault in other parts of the world. These include Russia, Iran, India, South Africa, Colombia, and Brazil. They are sometimes sold under different brands like Mahindra, Lada, or Nissan.
In 2012, Dacia sold a total of 359,822 cars. About 230,000 of these were sent to Western Europe. Most went to France and Germany. Besides Romania, other big markets for Dacia are Algeria, Turkey, Italy, and Spain.
In 2014, the company sold 511,465 cars in 43 countries. This was a new record. On May 6, 2014, the main Dacia factory in Mioveni made its five millionth car. This was about the three millionth car since Renault bought the brand.
The 3.5 millionth Dacia car, since the brand was relaunched ten years before, was sold in the UK in November 2015. In 2015, the company set another sales record, selling 550,920 cars. Dacia car sales went over 700,000 units in 2018. This was 7% more than the year before.
Sales Numbers Over Time
Here are the sales numbers for all Dacia models (under the Dacia brand only):
Dacia Car Models
Current Models
- Dacia Duster Pick-Up (2020–present)
- Dacia Logan III (2020–present)
- Dacia Sandero III (2020–present)
- Dacia Sandero Stepway III (2020–present)
- Dacia Spring Electric (2021–present)
- Dacia Spring Cargo (2021–present)
- Dacia Jogger (2022–present)
- Dacia Duster III (2024–present)
Future Models
Dacia plans to launch two new models after the Bigster by 2025.
- Dacia Bigster (2025)
Former Models
- Dacia 1100 (1968–1972)
- Dacia 1300 (1969–1979)
- Dacia 1301 (1970–1974)
- Dacia D6 Estafette (1974–1976)
- Dacia 1302 (1975–1982)
- Dacia 1210/1310/1410 (1979–2004; Dacia Denem in the United Kingdom)
- Dacia 1304 Pick Up (1979–2006)
- Dacia 2000 (1980–1982)
- Dacia Duster (1983–1990s; rebadged ARO 10 in the United Kingdom)
- Dacia 1310 Sport/1410 Sport (1983–1992)
- Dacia 1320 (1985–1989)
- Dacia 1305 Drop Side (1985–2006)
- Dacia 500 Lăstun (1988–1991)
- Dacia Liberta (1990–1996)
- Dacia 1309 (1992–1997)
- Dacia 1307 King Cab (1992–2003)
- Dacia 1307 Double Cab (1992–2006)
- Dacia Nova (1994–1999)
- Dacia SuperNova (2000–2002)
- Dacia Solenza (2003–2005)
- Dacia Logan I (2004–2012)
- Dacia Logan I MCV (2006–2012)
- Dacia Logan Van (2007–2012)
- Dacia Logan Pick-Up (2008–2012)
- Dacia Sandero I (2008–2012)
- Dacia Sandero Stepway I (2008–2012)
- Dacia Duster I (2009–2017)
- Dacia Logan II (2012–2020)
- Dacia Logan II MCV (2012–2020)
- Dacia Sandero II (2012–2020)
- Dacia Sandero Stepway II (2012–2020)
- Dacia Logan II Stepway (2019–2020)
- Dacia Dokker (2012–2021)
- Dacia Lodgy (2012–2022)
- Dacia Duster II (2017–2024)
Prototypes (Test Models)
- Dacia Braşovia coupé (1980)
- Mini-Dacia (1980s) – a small test car that could change from a hatchback to a pick-up or convertible
- Dacia Jumbo highrise van (1990)
- Dacia Nova minivan (1998)
- Dacia Star (1991)
- Dacia 1310 convertible (1987; only three made)
- Dacia 1306 saloon-derived pick-up (1994/5; very few made)
- Dacia 1310 Break Limousine (late 1980s) – a stretched station wagon with seven seats
- Dacia D33 (1997) – a test car designed by IDEA design house in Turin
- Dacia 1310 4x4 / Aro 12 (late 1980s) – a station wagon with 4-wheel drive
- Dacia Duster concept car (2009)
Marketing and Sponsorships
Sponsorships
From 2008 to 2023, Dacia sponsored the Italian football club Udinese Calcio. They also sponsored the Stadio Friuli stadium.
Dacia became the official car partner for the Rugby League Super League and the Challenge Cup in February 2016. They later became the main sponsors of the men's, women's, and wheelchair England rugby teams in June 2017. They also supported the Great Britain Rugby League Lions in 2019.
Images for kids
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Dacia Sandero
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Dacia Logan MCV
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Dacia Logan MCV (rear view)
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Dacia 1310 Estate
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Dacia D6 Estafette
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Dacia Manifesto concept car
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Dacia Bigster concept car
See also
In Spanish: Automobile Dacia para niños
