Romania’s new Economy Minister Daniel Zamfir publicly urged the Romanian operations of Dacia (Renault) and Ford Otosan to consult the government before taking any decisions to relocate production, the minister told delegates at the Automotive Forum & Awards on 10 November 2026.
What was said and when
Zamfir made the appeal on 10 November during the Automotive Forum & Awards, describing the automotive industry as “strategic” and saying Bucharest wants to be involved early in any corporate decisions that could affect production in Romania. The minister framed the request as a pre‑emptive, cooperative step rather than a response to a specific move by either company.
Prime Minister Luca Niculescu used the same forum to underline the sector’s economic scale: he said Romania’s automotive industry generated more than €30 billion in annual revenues and contributed over 13% of GDP, and urged policies to preserve competitiveness. Niculescu spoke on 11 November at the Automotive Forum event.
Policy measures on the table
The government also set out immediate fiscal measures meant to shore up investment: Digi24 reports that Bucharest plans to abolish the minimum turnover tax (IMCA) from 1 January 2027 and is offering accelerated tax depreciation — allowing firms to deduct 65% of the fiscal value of eligible technological equipment, machinery and installations commissioned in 2026 in the first year. Officials have additionally flagged a refundable R&D tax credit equal to 10% of eligible R&D spend.
While the government’s tone was firm, reporting indicates neither Dacia nor Ford Otosan had issued a response to the request at the time of publication.
What this means for the market
Romania’s public entreaty to two of its largest assemblers is significant for Central and Eastern Europe because decisions by Dacia and Ford Otosan ripple through regional supply chains, employment and local supplier networks. Asking firms to consult early gives Bucharest room to offer targeted incentives or legislative tweaks — the measures announced this week (IMCA removal, accelerated depreciation and an R&D credit) are concrete levers the state can use to influence locational choices.
For suppliers across CEE, earlier government involvement could mean faster negotiation of state aid or support programmes when carmakers review model allocations or production mixes. But the scale of any package and its compatibility with EU state‑aid rules will determine how persuasive Bucharest can be in practice. The government’s public framing of the sector as strategic signals higher political attention to any relocation debate.
At this stage the announcements are defensive and consultative: officials have opened a channel for talks but have not announced binding interventions or confirmed specific aid amounts. That leaves the immediate market impact limited to signalling — albeit from a government prepared to use fiscal tools to try to keep production on Romanian soil.
Sources: BalkansEasy, The Diplomat Bucharest, Digi24
