Motor vehicle registrations 2016: +7.4%; passenger cars by +6.8%; electric cars more than doubled; two-wheelers positive again since 2008; lorries reach highest level to date

Press release: 11.445-005/17

Vienna, 2017-01-11 - In 2016, a total of 430 648 new motor vehicles were registered, 7.4% more compared to the year before. According to Statistics Austria, the registrations of new passenger cars increased by 6.8% to a total of 329 604. Like in previous years, registrations of new lorries documented increases and reached with 39 958 the highest level to date. Regarding two-wheelers, increases of 12.5% (43 621) could be reported for the first time since 2008.

More diesel-driven than petrol-driven passenger cars and more importance for alternative drives

Passenger car registrations (329 604) recorded 21 049 units more in comparison with 2015 (308 555) and were therewith significantly above the twenty-year average of 309 397. Diesel-driven passenger cars (share: 57.3%) reported an increase by 5.0%, those with a petrol drive (share: 40.0%) faced an increase of 7.3%. The share of alternative drives - electric drive, natural gas, bivalent engine, hybrid drive and hydrogen (fuel cell) - was still low with a share of 2.7% or 9 028 units (2015: 1.9% or 5 901 units) but showed an increase of 53.0% compared to 2015 (2015: +33.1%).

The number of registrations of new passenger cars with a petrol-hybrid-drive - the most important engine-type among the alternatively driven passenger cars - increased by 55.5% to 4 392 units. Electric driven passenger cars increased by 128.1% to 3 826 units, the share in all new passenger cars rose from 0.5% to 1.2%. Electric cars were mostly registered in Lower Austria (share: 19.8%), followed by Upper Austria (17.2%), Styria (14.3%) and Vienna (13.6%) as well as predominantly by legal persons, companies and regional authorities (86.3% of new electric passenger car registrations).

Top 10 passenger car makes represent more than two-thirds of new car registrations

A comparison of the ten most important passenger car makes 2016 - generating more than two-thirds of new car registrations - showed, that with a market share of 17.2% and an increase of +5.9%, VW - once more - dominated the market. With an increase of 3.1% and a market share of 6.8%, Opel defended the second place. New registrations of the makes Audi (+14.7%), Ford (+11.6%), BMW (+15.9%), Renault (+16.0%), Mercedes (+21.2%) and Seat (+14.6%) increased whereas Skoda (-0.4%) and Hyundai (-20.1%) reported decreases.

One-day registrations of passenger cars are declining

For the second time in a row, the one-day registrations of passenger cars showed a decrease. As in the previous year (-8.7%), declining figures for max. 24 hours registered passenger cars (-14.3% to 20 687 units) were reported for 2016. Therewith, the share in total new passenger car registrations reduced from 7.8% in 2015 to currently 6.3%.

Trend to low-emission passenger cars continues

Since 2000, the CO emissions of new passenger cars continuously diminished and achieved an average of 122 g/km (2000: 176 g/km; -30.7%) for petrol-driven vehicles and 123 g/km (2000: 162 g/km; -24.1%) for those with diesel drive in 2015. Regarding CO classes, passenger cars with less than 120 g/km (+11.4%) as well as 120 to 150 g/km (+6.7%) showed increases whereas those in the class starting with 151 g/km decreased (-18.0%).

Lorries accomplish highest value to date; decreases for tractors

In 2016, registrations of new lorries developed positively (+9.9%) and, with 39 958 totally, reached an all-time high - this value exceeds the previous lead of 2008 (37 485) by 2 473 units. Light commercial vehicles (lorries up to 3.5 t gross vehicle weight (gvw); cl. N1; +9.3%) as well as those above 12 t gvw (cl. N3; +20.4%) increased whereas lorries from 3.5 t to 12 t gvw (cl. N2; -9.6%) showed decreases. Like in previous years, the tractors used for agriculture and forestry (-4.9% to 5 608 registrations) developed negatively. Articulated lorries (+4.5%) documented positive results.

After long-term downward trend, two-wheelers develop positively again

Due to a positive development for motorcycles (above 35 kW or 47 bhp; +13.1%) as well as lightweight motorcycles (+23.4%) in 2016, the market for two-wheelers showed increases (+12.5%) for the first time since 2008. The number of scooters remained almost unchanged (-0.3%).

Again more than 1 million used motor vehicles

In 2016, a total of 1 029 795 used motor vehicles were registered in Austria. This figure marks an increase of 2.9% compared to 2015. Registrations of used passenger cars (841 310) reported an increase of 3.1% as well. Used passenger cars with a diesel drive showed increases (+5.0%) whereas those with petrol drive (incl. flex-fuel; -0.2%) developed negatively. On the market for commercial vehicles, lorries reported increases (+4.7%) whereas tractors used for agriculture and forestry (-1.1%) and articulated lorries (-3.6%) decreased. Among the two-wheelers, motor- and lightweight motorcycles (+3.6% and +3.8%, resp.) showed increases, while scooters declined (-1.6%).

Provisional stock 2016: 6.65 million motor vehicles, thereof 4.82 million passenger cars

According to provisional results, the stock of motor vehicles registered in Austria amounted to about 6.65 million on the reference day 31 December 2016, by 1.7% more than the year before. Passenger cars, the most important type of vehicle (share: 72.5%), showed an increase by 1.5% to 4.82 million vehicles. The number of tractors used for agriculture and forestry amounted to 456 375 (+0.6%), lorries in total recorded 440 299 units (+3.0%) and articulated lorries increased as well (16 846; +2.0%). Among the two-wheelers, 502 246 motorcycles (including lightweight motorcycles; +4.0%) and 277 072 scooters (-1.4%) 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.

Methodical information, 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 REISEL, Tel. [phone] resp. [e-mail]

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