Statistik Austria : 353 320 new car registrations 2017 represent highest value since 2011; increase of more than one half for passenger cars powered by alternative fuels

Press release: 11.696-007/18

Vienna, 2018-01-10 - In 2017, a total of 457 174 new motor vehicles was registered, 6.2% more than the year before. According to Statistics Austria, the registrations of new passenger cars increased by 7.2% to a total of 353 320. As in previous years, registrations of new lorries documented increases, reaching a new high of 44 127 (+10.4%). For two-wheelers, decreases of 6.6% (40 744) were documented after a positive previous year (+12.5%).

A quarter more petrol-driven passenger cars, diesel cars decreased; alternative drives on the rise

Passenger car registrations (353 320) recorded 23 716 units more than 2016 (329 604) and were therewith significantly above the twenty-year average of 313 312. Petrol-driven passenger cars (share: 46.3%) reported an increase by 24.2%, those with diesel drive (share: 49.7%) faced a decline of 7.1%. The share of alternative drives - electric drive, natural gas, bivalent engine and hybrid drive - was still low with a share of 4.0% or 14 161 units (2016: 2.7% or 9 028 units) but showed an increase of 56.9% compared to 2016 (2016: +53.0%).

The number of 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 85.8% to 8 161 units. Electrically powered cars increased by 42.0% to 5 433 units, the share related to all new registered passenger cars rose from 1.2% to 1.5%. Electric cars were mostly registered in Lower Austria (share: 20.5%), followed by Upper Austria (16.9%), Vienna (16.0%) and Styria (15.7%). Their registrations were predominantly undertaken by legal persons, companies and regional authorities (78.6% of new electric passenger car registrations), although the share of private registrations rose from 13.7% in 2016 to currently 21.4%.

Registrations for more powerful cars with less engine capacity at the same time increased

New registrations of more powerful passenger cars again had the highest shares in 2017 (from 78 kW or 106 hp: 65.8%) and developed positively compared to 2016 (+7.6%). Particularly high growth rates were achieved by passenger cars in the class above 126 kW (from 171 hp), for which new registrations rose by 11.5%. Lower power cars up to 77 kW and 105 hp also gained in importance (+6.4%, 2016: -7.1%).

An analysis by engine capacity classes shows that the proportionally most important engine capacity class (1 751 to 2 000 cc, share: 26.3%) recorded an increase of 1.6% compared to 2016. Class 501 to 1 000 cc was able to increase by more than a third (+38.4%).

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

A comparison of the ten most important passenger car makes 2017, representing more than two thirds of new car registrations, shows that VW remained market leader with a share of 16.6% and an increase of 3.9%. Skoda, 2016 in third place, could improve its ranking with an increase of 19.0% and a market share of 7.1%. New registrations of Opel developed negatively (-5.9%), as a consequence Opel dropped to third place in the ranking with a market share of 6.0%. Furthermore, top makes like Ford (+7.6%), Renault (+4.6%), Hyundai (+18.7%), Mercedes (+12.5%) and Seat (+14.4%) could increase their figures, whereas BMW (-1.7%) and Audi (-13.0%) reported decreases.

One-day registrations of passenger cars increased again in 2017

The one-day registrations of passenger cars increased by 17.3% to 24 257 units, in contrast to 2016 (-14.3%) and 2015 (-8.7%). Their share in total new passenger car registrations amounted to 6.9% (2016: 6.3%). The number of short-term registrations of passenger cars up to seven days increased by 18.0%, those up to 30 days and 60 days rose by 16.6% and 11.2%, respectively. Short-term registrations up to 90 days (+10.4%) and those up to 120 days (+10.0%) documented increases as well.

Trend to low-emission passenger cars continues

Since 2000, the CO emissions of new passenger cars continuously diminished until 2016. In 2017, the value for petrol-driven passenger cars remained at 122 g/km (2000: 176 g/km; -30.7%). For diesel cars, a slight increase could be registered from 123 g/km in 2016 to 125 g/km in 2017 (2000: 162 g/km; -22.8%).

Lorries accomplish highest value so far; more tractors used for agriculture and forestry

In 2017, registrations of new lorries developed positively (+10.4%) and, with 44 127 totally, reached an all-time high - this value exceeds the previous peak of 2016 (39 958) by 4 169 units. Light commercial vehicles (lorries up to 3.5 t gross vehicle weight (gvw); cl. N1; +11.8%) increased, whereas lorries from 3.5 t to 12 t gvw (cl. N2; -3.7%) as well as those above 12 t gvw (cl. N3; -1.9%) showed decreases. Tractors used for agriculture and forestry (+19.9%) and articulated lorries (+7.4%) documented positive results.

Less registrations for two-wheelers

The number of newly registered two-wheelers showed an overall decrease (-6.6%) in comparison to 2016. Among the two-wheelers, the number of new motorcycles decreased by 16.5%, those of scooters rose by 14.8%.

More than 1 million used motor vehicles

In 2017, a total of 1 044 171 used motor vehicles were registered in Austria which indicates an increase of 1.4% compared to 2016. Registrations of used passenger cars (853 244) reported an increase of 1.4% as well. Used passenger cars with diesel drive (+1.5%) as well as those with petrol drive (incl. flex-fuel; +0.5%) showed increases. On the market for commercial vehicles, lorries (+4.1%) and articulated lorries (+25.3%) reported increases whereas tractors used for agriculture and forestry decreased (-2.7%). For two-wheelers, motorcycles (+1.5%) showed increases, while scooters declined (-2.5%).

Provisional stock 2017: 6.77 million motor vehicles, thereof 4.9 million passenger cars

According to provisional figures, the stock of motor vehicles registered in Austria amounted to about 6.77 million on the reference day 31 December 2017, by 1.8% more than in 2016. Passenger cars, the most important type of vehicle (share: 72.3%), showed an increase by 1.6% to 4.9 million vehicles. The number of tractors used for agriculture and forestry amounted to 460 174 (+0.8%), lorries recorded 456 908 units in total (+3.8%) and articulated lorries increased as well (17 870; +6.1%). For two-wheelers, 518 394 motorcycles (+3.2%) and 275 912 scooters (-0.4%) 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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