Levi Group Brings Jeep To Romania Through AutoItalia

05.04.2011 By Andrei Circhelan

Israeli Levi Group, the new owner of Fiat importer to Romania AutoItalia, will become the local representative of carmaker Jeep and will launch the new Lancia locally, according to Ori Lahav, general manager of Mediterranean Car Agency, the group’s auto division.

Levi Group bought AutoItalia in April, through Mediterranean Car Agency, from Herbert Stein, the importer's president.

AutoItalia was founded by Stein in 1993 and it is the local importer with the widest portfolio, including Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Maserati, Infiniti, SSangYong, Abarth, Honda Bikes and Segway. The AutoItalia network includes over 40 de showrooms.

After the purchase, AutoItalia will also include Jeep in its portfolio, as well as the new Lancia, produced on the Chrysler platform.

Romanian business daily Ziarul Financiar wrote in April that the sale was signed at EUR20 million. Lahav refused to disclose the transaction value.

AutoItalia sold 3,800 cars last year, half of deliveries registered in 2009. In addition, the company's market share dropped to 3.2% last year, from 5% in 2009.

Car sales dropped 18% last year in Romania, to 106,328 units.