Cyprus saw an increase of 15.9 per cent in the total number of motor vehicle registrations during the first eight months of the year, totalling 34,391, up from 29,673 in the same period last year.

According to the Cyprus Statistical Service (Cystat), motor vehicle registrations in August alone numbered 3,527. This marks a rise of 9.8 per cent from the 3,211 recorded in August 2023.

Of these registrations, passenger saloon cars saw a 6.8 per cent increase, reaching 2,776 from 2,599 in the previous August.

During the January to August 2024 period, passenger saloon cars increased by 13.1 per cent, growing from 23,777 in the first eight months of 2023 to 26,902 this year.

Of these, 10,963, or 40.8 per cent, were new vehicles, while 15,939, or 59.2 per cent, were used cars.

Rental cars experienced a decline of 27.8 per cent, falling to 3,180.

The report also noted the proportion of petrol-powered passenger cars decreased to 50.1 per cent from 59.8 per cent in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Diesel-powered cars also saw a slight drop to 9.9 per cent from 10.2 per cent.

Conversely, electric cars increased their share from 2.4 per cent in 2023 to 3.3 per cent in 2024, while hybrid cars rose significantly from 27.5 per cent to 36.8 per cent.

Motor coaches and buses showed a decrease in registrations, with numbers falling to 110 from 231 in the same period of 2023.

On the other hand, goods conveyance vehicles saw a substantial increase of 38.4 per cent, reaching 3,858 from 2,788.

This category saw a 41.5 per cent rise in light goods vehicles, which reached 3,073, a 34.2 per cent increase in heavy goods vehicles to 463, and an 83.1 per cent rise in road tractors to 152.

Rental vehicles in this category, however, decreased by 10.1 per cent to 170.

Meanwhile, motorcycles with engines smaller than 50cc saw a sharp increase, rising to 535 from 206 in the previous year.

Similarly, motorcycles with engines greater than 50cc grew by 9.0 per cent, reaching 2,532 from 2,324 in the same period of 2023.