This paper aims to assess the position of the Romanian automotive sector in intermediate and final production stages along global value chains. The inter-sectorial linkages are split into domestic and foreign use in order to distinguish between national and external demand for intermediate products. In order to emphasise intra and inter-industry linkages of the Romanian automobile industry, the consumption of transport equipment products as intermediate products is then analysed at the sector level (foreign and domestic), highlighting the main countries and sectors using these products as inputs. Although it remains crucially dependent on the timing and accuracy of GVC databases, this analysis brings the competitiveness debate into new territories.