Vehicle registrations down in first eight months

Motor vehicle registrations followed a downward path in the period between January and August despite the economic recovery this year following the downturn in 2020 due to Covid.

In August, motor vehicles registrations reached 2,298, recording an annual decrease of 28.6 per cent whereas passenger saloon cars declined by an annual 29.4 per cent, to 1,796.

According to data released by the statistical service, total registrations of motor vehicles fell 2.4 per cent to 24,372 between January and August 2021, from 24,969 in the same period last year.

Saloon cars fell to 18,775, from 19,263 between January and August 2020, recording a drop of 2.5 per cent.

Of 18,775 saloon cars, 7,558, or 40.3 per cent, were new and 11,217, or 59.7 per cent, were used, Cystat said.

Transport vehicles fell by 12.7 per cent, to 2,749 in January-August 2021, compared with 3,148 in January-August 2020.

Light goods vehicles decreased by 19.8 per cent, to 2,024, and heavy goods vehicles by 5.3 per cent to 338.

Motorcycles with engines below 50cc recorded an increase of 43.8 per cent, to 184,  compared with 128 in the corresponding period of 2020. Motorcycles over 50cc increased to 2,344 in January-August 2021, compared with 1,932 in January-August 2020, recording an increase of 21.3 per cent.