Hyundai Lantra Wagon

Hyundai Lantra Wagon

Hyundai Lantra Wagon

The region of Romania surrounding the industrial city of Pitesti was called Dacia in Roman times and an automobile manufacturer based in the city operates under the historic Dacia name today. The Dacia automobile company began producing small Soviet style cars in the late 1960's for the domestic market as well other cars made in partnership with French car maker Renault.

At the time, the nation's president was on good terms with the Western nations and the vehicles built for Renault were exhibited at Auto shows in France. However, as the decades wore on, cars in Western Europe became more luxurious while the cars made by Dacia were indistinguishable from the famous Trabants that were breaking down all over East Berlin. The workers at the plant in Pitesti were well paid under the Communist regime but as the Ceaucescu era came to an end so did the government backing of the auto-maker.

In 1999, French car maker Renault bought out the ailing Romanian firm and the company began to move away from Communist era cars and started to produce small, fuel efficient vehicles that were similar to the Fiats coming out of Italy.