Centaurus Metals : New passenger car registrations declined by 3.4% in 2019; significant growth for passenger cars powered by alternative fuels

Press release: 12.165-005/20

Vienna,2020-01-15 - In 2019, registrations of new motor vehiclesdecreased by 1.8% to 436 260, as Statistics Austria reports. New registrations of passenger carsdecreased by 3.4% to 329 363. The number of newly registered lorriesremained almost unchanged (+0.2%; 48 042 vehicles). Tractors used for agriculture and forestryrecorded - after a decrease 2018 (-19.3%) - an increase (+11.2%). New registrations of two-wheelersalso increased (+6.6% to 40 660; 2018: -6.4% compared to 2017).

Fewer petrol- and diesel-driven passenger cars, but alternative drives on the rise

The number of passenger car registrations (329 363) was by 11 705 lower than 2018 (341 068), but still significantly above the twenty-year average of 316 332. Petrol-driven passenger cars (share: 53.7%) recorded a decrease of 4.0%, as well as those with diesel drive (share: 38.4%; -9.8%). The share of alternative drives - electric drive, natural gas, bivalent engine, hybrid drive and hydrogen (fuel cell) - was still low with 8.0% of all new registrations or 26 346 (2018: 4.9% or 16 807), but nonetheless showed an increase of 56.8% compared to the previous year (2018: +18.7%). Registrations of new passenger cars with a petrol-hybrid drive - the most important engine type among the passenger cars powered by alternative fuels - increased by 47.8% to 12 348.

New registrations of electric cars increased by more than a third

The number of newly registered electrically powered passenger cars increased by 36.8% to 9 242, the share related to all new registered passenger cars rose from 2.0% to 2.8%. Electric cars were mostly registered in Vienna (share: 19.9%), followed by Lower Austria (17.8%), Upper Austria (16.8%) and Styria (14.8%). Their registrations were predominantly undertaken by legal persons, companies and regional authorities (80.9% of new electric passenger car registrations), the share of private registrations declined from 19.9% in 2018 to currently 19.1%.

Average CO₂ emissions of passenger cars reach 126 g/km

CO₂ emissions from all newly registered passenger cars (incl. those with electric and hydrogen drive) amounted to an average of 126 g/km in 2019 (2018: 123 g/km), according to provisional data based on measurements within the framework of the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). For petrol-powered passenger cars, the value rose from 125 g/km to 128 g/km (2000: 176 g/km). Diesel cars recorded an increase in CO₂ emissions from 129 g/km in 2018 to 133 g/km in 2019 (2000: 162 g/km). Without electric- and hydrogen-powered passenger cars, the average CO₂ value would reach 129 g/km (2018: 126 g/km).

According to the new Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP), the average value for newly registered petrol cars in 2019 was 150 g/km; for diesel cars it was 163 g/km.

As in the previous years, vehicles in the most common CO₂ class 111 to 120 g/km (share: 24.2%) increased again (+0.8%). The highest increase (+63.5%) was reported for the class 161 to 170 g/km (share: 5.3%).

Most popular car segment: off-road-vehicles/SUVs

The favoured segment in new car registrations was the off-road-vehicle or Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with a market share of 31.9% (105 102 vehicles), followed by compact cars with a share of 24.7% (81 479 vehicles) and small cars (share: 18.8%; 61 992 vehicles). The average CO₂ emissions were 136 g/km for off-road-vehicles/SUVs, 115 g/km for compact cars and 112 g/km for small cars.

VW remained market leader, followed by Skoda and Seat

A comparison of the ten most important passenger car makes 2019, representing about two thirds of all new car registrations, shows that VW remained market leader with a share of 16.0%, although registration numbers decreased by 7.5%. VW was followed by Skoda (share: 8.3%) and Seat (share: 6.0%), whose new registrations rose by 7.3% and 5.7% respectively. Registrations of Ford declined (-2.8%), whereas BMW reported a plus of 3.2%. The other top ten makes developed negatively: Renault -4.5%, Opel -10.8%, Hyundai -9.4%, Mercedes -6.8% and Fiat -8.9%.

Around a quarter fewer one-day registrations of passenger cars

One-day registrations of passenger cars decreased by 24.2% in 2019 (2018: -3.7%; 2017: +17.3%; 2016: -14.3%; 2015: -8.7%). The share related to new passenger car registrations in total amounted to 5.4% (2018: 6.8% or 23 352). The months January to October 2019 showed high increases between 45.1% and 6.4%. For the months November and December more registrations were observed (+7.7% and +40.1%, respectively).

The number of short-term registrations of passenger cars up to seven days decreased by 17.9%, those up to 30 (-10.4%), 60 and 90 days (each -8.5%), respectively. Short-term registrations up to 120 days showed decreases as well (-7.5%).

New registrations of lorries remained stable; more agricultural and forestry tractors

In 2019, registrations of new lorries developed slightly positive (+0.2%), reaching a new high of 48 042. Heavy lorries (category (cat.) N3; above 12 t gross vehicle weight (gvw) as well as lorries from 3.5 t to 12 t gvw (cat. N2) documented increases of 7.9% and 2.5%, respectively. Whereas the light commercial vehicles (lorries up to 3.5 t gvw; cat. N1) - the most important category - faced minor losses of 0.5%. For tractors used for agriculture and forestry (6 031 vehicles) an increase of 11.2% was reported. In 2018, new registrations had fallen by 19.3%. The number of new registrations of articulated lorries fell by 11.1% to 3 465.

Registrations of new two-wheelers increased by 6.6%

Newly registered two-wheelers showed an overall increase of 6.6% to 40 660 vehicles in 2019. The number of new motorcycle registrations increased by 6.4%, that of scooters by 7.1%. The two-wheelers had reached the highest value in 2008 with a total of 53 255 new registrations.

Of the 12 964 newly registered scooters, 1 902 or 14.7% had an electric drive (share: +4.7%), while only 2.0% of the new motorcycles were powered electrically (550 vehicles; +75.2%).

Used motor vehicle registrations stagnated in 2019

In 2019, a total of 1 067 994 used motor vehicles was registered in Austria. This represents a decrease of 0.1% compared to the previous year. A decrease was also reported for registrations of used passenger cars (872 043; -0.3%). Among them, used passenger cars with diesel drive (share: 60.4%) showed a decrease of 0.7% to 526 530 vehicles, and cars with petrol drive (incl. flex-fuel) decreased as well (-0.8% compared to 2018; share: 38.1%). The market for used commercial vehicles reported increases for lorries (+4.9%), articulated lorries (+4.1%) and tractors for agriculture and forestry (+3.1%). Among used two-wheelers, scooters (+0.2%) showed increases, while motorcycles declined (-6.7%).

Provisional stock 2019: for the first time more than 5 million passenger cars registered in Austria

According to provisional figures for the reference day 31 December 2019, the stock of motor vehicles registered in Austria amounted to about 7.00 million, by 1.5% more than in 2018. Passenger cars, the most important type of vehicle (share: 72.0%), showed an increase by 1.2% to 5.04 million vehicles. Furthermore, 494 585 lorries (+3.8%), 468 078 tractors used for agriculture and forestry (+0.8%) and 19 334 articulated lorries (+2.3%) were counted. Within two-wheelers, 549 769 motorcycles (+2.8%) and 272 483 scooters (-0.7%) were recorded.

For more detailed results and further information concerning registration statistics of new vehicles, used vehicles and the stock of vehicles, please refer to our website.

Information on methods, definitions:Motor vehicle statistics (registrations of new and used vehicles as well as the stock of vehicles) are secondary statistics, compiled on the basis of daily data files sent to Statistics Austria by Austria's association of insurance companies (VVO). VVO, in turn, receives data by the insurances' registrations offices, responsible for registrations, de-registrations and rectifications of motor vehicles and trailers.
Within motor vehicle statistics, all motor vehicles, once nationally or internationally registered, are levied, irrespective of the registration's duration.

For further inquiries please contact Directorate Spatial Statistics, Statistics Austria:
Gerda FISCHER, Tel. [phone] resp. [e-mail] and
Julia BAUER, Tel. [phone] resp. [e-mail]

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