BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Constantin Stroe, a leading figure of Romania's automobile manufacturing industry, has died. He was 74.

Automobile Dacia chief executive Yves Caracatzanis said that Stroe "wrote the history of the Romanian automobile for 48 years." Dacia is part of the French Renault group.

Stroe died Saturday after suffering a stroke in November. He began working for Dacia in 1968 and was the company's general manager from 1990 to 2002. Renault SA bought Dacia in 1999 and in 2015, the plant sold 550,000 automobiles.

Premier Dacian Ciolos praised Stroe on Sunday saying: "due to his vision, Dacia is today one of the best sold and most respected auto brands in Europe."

Stroe was also chairman of Romania's Association of Automobile Manufacturers and on the board of the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association.