There are nearly 64K remodeled/retro filled cars in Bulgaria. Ecologically clean vehicles are becoming more popular with 4,119 hybrid vehicles and 495 pure electrical vehicles, most M1 passenger vehicles, almost double the number compared to 2017. The shared services are slowly and carefully penetrating the Bulgarian automotive market. Companies like Spark and UAB Ride share are offering shared e-cars for the biggest cities. Shared e-motorbikes are also expected to be operational in the capital, Sofia, very soon.
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By the end of the first quarter of 2018 eMobility International, is going to build numerous charging stations for electric cars along all major highways and key roads in the country. The network of charging stations built by ABB Bulgaria – with ABB’s Terra 53 fast chargers in place – has covered the international routes from Sofia to the Greek border and the plan of expansion includes additional 15 charging stations along all key roads and highways across the country.
E-mobility International based in Bulgaria, launched an electric car rental service in Sofia together with its Lithuanian peer UAB Ride share, which operates under the Spark brand. The new service is accessible through the Spark mobile application that allows customers to find, and rent the nearest electric car. UAB Ride Share Bulgaria is a 50/50 joint venture between E-mobility International and Lithuania's UAB Ride share.
Used Automotive Products Summary
Most of the cars in Bulgaria have an average age of 15 years, which translates into constant demand for automotive aftermarket products and consumables. Second-hand parts dealers are preferred by most people because they are easily accessible and affordable. Their prices in many cases may be as low as 80% of the ones sold by official importers.
Passenger Cars (M1)
Dacia is one of the main competitors in the Bulgarian market with 3,600 cars sold in 2016 accounting for 17.6 percent of total sales. In the same year, Renault was the second best performing car with 3,491 sold cars or 17.06 percent of all car sales. Other players are Skoda, Opel, Ford, Great Wall, Peugeot, Toyota, Kia, Citroen, Hyundai, Nissan, BMW, Audi, Mazda and Mercedes whose sales percentages in 2016 varied from 2.2 percent to 8.8 percent.
The European Automobile Manufacturers Association notes that in 2016, 26,370 new cars were registered in Bulgaria, a 12 percent increase over 2015. Data up to March 2017 indicate a steady increase of new cars due, in part, to the procurement of 280 new border police cars, a tender won by KIA Motors. Excluding that one-time sale, the first three months of 2017 demonstrated a 17 percent
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