François Provost criticizes the Rabla Program and calls on the government to provide clearer support for Romania’s automotive industry

Renault Group CEO François Provost is criticizing the rules of the Rabla Program and calling on the Romanian government to provide clearer support for local automotive production. He argues that subsidies are awarded equally to cars produced in Mioveni and vehicles imported from outside Europe, even though the latter do not generate comparable jobs or investment in the country.

Provost warned that Chinese manufacturers are putting pressure on the volumes of the Dacia plant, particularly in the C-segment SUV category. However, he believes the Romanian brand can compete through its design, E-Tech hybrid technology and European service network.

The Renault chief says Dacia and its suppliers support approximately 10,000 employees and numerous investments in Romania. In this context, he is calling on the authorities to take the contribution of the local industry into account when establishing support programs, especially as electricity in Romania has, according to his statements, a high cost.

François Provost is not calling for Chinese imports to be blocked and rejects the model of trade barriers applied by the United States. He proposes that Chinese manufacturers seeking access to the European market invest locally, use European suppliers and comply with the same rules as manufacturers in Europe.