1980 - Dacia Cars

Dacia was off to a good start in the 1960's that continue well into the early 70's. However, at this point Japanese and other Asian car manufacturers began to gain traction in Europe, which started pushing some other European car manufacturers, such as Dacia, out of the picture. Although Dacia suffered from decreased sales figures during the 80's, they were still able to hold on to a significant portion of the market.

Part of the problem with Dacia during the 80's was that they tried to get too creative and come up with too many alternate styles of vehicles. They basically abandoned their previous models and the success they brought and tried to expand, which didn't pay off for them. They had several models similar to their 1100 style, but they also tried their hand at vans, trucks, limos, and utility vehicles such as ambulances. Although they were able to sell a few thousand, this was not enough to make the new venture successful. As a result, they not only struggled to define themselves in the market, but they also had spread their resources too thin.

Eventually, Dacia was able to recover by going back to their original style and by going back to their roots, which was the 1100 and 1300 style of car. They started making cars that people wanted, rather than cars they thought that people wanted. They created several popular sedans and coupes that fit well within the needs of the consumer in regards to style, efficiency, and cost.

The 1304 model pickup, and the 1305 dropside models, became a hit within the auto industry. Customers started buying these in spades and there were even large wait lists for several models. In fact, these models were so successful they were manufactured steadily up until 2005, when they were finally taken off the shelf for a re-design. Dacia also redesigned their basic models, by changing the headlights, grills, and trim to match the style at the time. Customers responded well to these changes and the Dacia models continue to sell well on into the late 1980's.

Like many businesses come to learn, if you move away from what your customers want or what made you famous, then you are likely to be met with criticism and decreased sales. Dacia learned this lesson within their first 20 years of business and luckily they were able to rebound without much trouble. They are still making cars to date and in fact their line was built up to become a very popular hit in Europe. Eventually Dacia was purchased by Renault and became the Romanian division of a larger manufacturer. They've kept their style going strong and if you spend any time in Romania, then you will more than likely see a plethora of Dacia automobiles driving around on the streets. They are inexpensive and efficient, which makes them a very popular choice. Although Dacia cars are not currently available in the United States, they are available in most of Europe and some parts of Asia.