News Releases

Vetturi bil-Mutur: L-Ewwel Kwart tal-2023
NR071/2023
Data tal-Ħruġ: 26 taʼ April 2023
In the first quarter of 2023, the stock of licensed motor vehicles increased by 1,816 over the previous quarter.

At the end of March 2023, the stock of licensed motor vehicles stood at 426,720. Out of this total, 74.5 per cent were passenger cars, 12.4 per cent were goods-carrying vehicles and 12.3 per cent were motorcycles/E-bikes/PA-bikes, special purpose vehicles, E-kick scooters, agricultural vehicles and minibuses. Road tractors, quadricycles, All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and buses amounted to less than one per cent (Table 1). During the quarter under review, the stock of licensed motor vehicles increased at a net average rate of 20 motor vehicles per day (Chart 2).

Newly licensed motor vehicles

Newly licensed motor vehicles put on the road during the period under review amounted to 4,704. The majority of newly licensed motor vehicles, 3,039 or 64.6 per cent of the total, were passenger cars, followed by motorcycles/PA-bikes/E-bikes with 804 or 17.1 per cent. Newly licensed ‘new’ motor vehicles amounted to 2,778 or 59.1 per cent of the total, whereas newly licensed ‘used’ motor vehicles totalled 1,926 or 40.9 per cent (Tables 2-4). An average of 52 motor vehicles per day were newly licensed during the quarter under review (Chart 3).

Motor vehicles under restriction

During the first quarter of 2023, 6,329 motor vehicles were taken off the road due to restrictions. Out of these, 39.1 per cent were garaged, 36.4 per cent were resold, while 22.4 per cent were scrapped. Motor vehicles that had their restriction ending during the quarter under review totalled 3,760. The majority were recorded as being resold (55.6 per cent) or garaged (43.4 per cent) (Tables 5-6).

Motor energy type

As at the end of March 2023, 250,079 motor vehicles or 58.6 per cent of the total had petrol-powered engines. Diesel-powered motor vehicles reached 155,929 or 36.5 per cent of the total. Electric and plug-in hybrid motor vehicles accounted for 2.9 per cent of the entire stock, with a total of 12,411 motor vehicles. When compared to the previous quarter, increases of 43.5 per cent, 15.4 per cent and 10.6 per cent were registered in combined (diesel-LPG), plug-in hybrid (diesel-electric) and plug-in hybrid (petrol-electric) motor vehicles respectively (Table 7).

Chart 1. Stock of licensed motor vehicles by period

No Data Found

Chart 2. Average daily change in stock of licensed motor vehicles

Quarterly

No Data Found

Note: The values indicated in the chart above are calculated using the formula in methodological note 9. This may differ slightly from the change obtained from the formula indicated in methodological note 8 due to the cut-off dates of the different databases.

Chart 3. Average daily newly licensed 'new' and 'used' motor vehicles

Quarterly

No Data Found

Additional Tables and Charts

Methodological Notes

1. This news release is based on data provided by Transport Malta.
 
2. Data in this news release is subject to revision.
 
3. As from the publication of Q3/2021 news release, data by vehicle group has been recategorised to include e-kick scooters. Refer to methodological note 6.
 
4. Data is being presented in consistency with international counterparts (Eurostat/ITF/UNECE) according to the 5th edition of the illustrated Glossary for Transport Statistics.
 
5. As from 2020, the commentary in this news release is focused on the quarterly comparison of stock of motor vehicles, rather than annual as was done in previous news releases. This modification was introduced as the data relates mainly to stock values and not flow values. This change has only affected the perspective of the commentary.
 
6. Definitions:
a.  Motor vehicle categories and classifications
  ●  Agricultural: motor vehicle, normally a tractor, designed exclusively or primarily for agricultural purposes; licensed to use roads open to public traffic.

  ●  Coach and private bus: passenger road motor vehicle designed to carry more than 24 persons (including driver), and with a provision to carry seated and standing passengers.

  ●  Minibus/mini-coach: passenger road motor vehicle designed to carry 10-23 seated or standing persons (including the driver).   

  ●  Route bus: bus licensed to operate on established bus routes.  

  ●  Motorcycle: two-, three- or four-wheeled road motor vehicle not exceeding 400kg of unladen weight. All such vehicles with a cylinder capacity of 50cc or over are included, as are those under 50cc which do not meet the definition of moped.

  ●  E-Bicycle/PA-Bicycle: bicycle with supportive electrical power unit. Due to the negligible number of powered bicycles, such data is included with motorcycles. 

  ●  E-kick scooter:  a stand-up device that has a handlebar, a deck and small hard wheels powered by an electric motor and which also allows for human propulsion.                 

  ●  Moped: two-, three- or four-wheeled road motor vehicle which is fitted with an engine having a cylinder capacity of less than 50cc and a maximum authorised design speed in accordance with national regulations. In this news release, mopeds are included together with motorcycles.

  ●  Quad (Quadricycle)/ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle): four-wheeled road motor vehicle not exceeding 400kg of unladen weight. All such vehicles with a cylinder capacity of 50cc or over are included, as are those under 50cc which do not meet the definition of moped.

  ●  Passenger road vehicle: a road motor vehicle designed, exclusively or primarily, to carry one or more persons. This category includes motorcycles, mopeds, passenger cars, vans designed and used primarily for the transportation of passengers, taxis, hire cars, ambulances, buses, coaches, minibuses and motor homes.

  ●  Passenger car: road motor vehicle, other than a moped, motorcycle or Quad/ATV, intended for the carriage of passengers and designed to seat no more than nine persons (including the driver). This category includes passenger cars, vans designed and used primarily for the transportation of passengers, taxis, hire cars, ambulances, motor homes (not caravans), hearses and microcars.

  ●  Goods-carrying vehicle: road motor vehicle designed, exclusively or primarily, to carry goods. This category includes: (i) light goods road motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of not more than 3,500kg designed exclusively or primarily to carry goods, such as vans and pick-ups; (ii) heavy goods road motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight above 3,500kg designed to carry goods. 

  ●  Road tractor: road motor vehicle designed, exclusively or primarily, to haul other road motor vehicles which are not power driven (mainly semi-trailers).

  ●  Special purpose vehicle: road motor vehicle for purposes other than the carriage of passengers or goods. This category includes: fire brigade vehicles; mobile cranes; self-propelled rollers; bulldozers with metallic wheels or track; vehicles for recording film, radio and TV broadcasting; mobile library vehicles; mobile kiosks; towing vehicles for vehicles in need of repair and other special purpose road motor vehicles. 

  ●  Garage hire: chauffeur-driven car for hire with driver without pre-determined routes. The method of hire is normally: (i) Flagging down the street; (ii) Picking up at a designated taxi rank; (iii) Telephoning for collection; (iv) Booking through mobile apps or internet. 

  ●  Self-drive car/motorcycle: passenger road motor vehicle available for hire (without chauffeur). A ‘K’ plate is assigned to all motor vehicles falling in this category.

  ●  Taxi: licensed passenger car for hire with driver without pre-determined routes. The method of hire is normally: (i) Flagging down the street; (ii) Picking up at a designated taxi rank; (iii) Telephoning for collection. In Malta this category refers only to a specific taxi license and commonly recognised as white taxis.

  ●  Leased: a contract under which the owner of a motor vehicle grants to another person the exclusive possession of the motor vehicle for an agreed period, in return for a consideration, and under such conditions that the possessor of the motor vehicle will be obliged to pay the full amount of the consideration, or a penalty, to the owner of the motor vehicle, should the contract be terminated before the expiration of the agreed period. A ‘QZ’ plate is assigned to all motor vehicles falling in this category. In recent years, this category is taking over the ‘self-drive vehicles’ category.

  ●  Other: this category includes any other use/ownership (mostly private), not mentioned above.

 
b. Alternative vehicle motorisation types
 
  ● Electric/battery-operated: electrically-operated motor vehicle, totally independent of a fuel-driven engine.
 

  ● Mild hybrid petrol-electric vehicle (not plug-in): road motor vehicle using petrol for propulsion, with an additional one or more electric motors for propulsion, where the electric motor(s) are powered from a traction battery which is charged by a generator driven by the petrol engine. Plug-in hybrid petrol-electric vehicles are not included.

  ● Mild hybrid diesel-electric vehicle (not plug-in): road motor vehicle using diesel for propulsion, with an additional one or more electric motors for propulsion, where the electric motor(s) are powered from a traction battery which is charged by a generator driven by the diesel engine. Plug-in hybrid diesel-electric vehicles are not included.

  ● Plug-in hybrid petrol-electric vehicle: hybrid petrol-electric vehicle where the traction battery can also be charged from an external electricity source (such as an electric socket). Mild hybrid petrol-electric vehicles are not included.

  ● Plug-in hybrid diesel-electric vehicle: hybrid diesel-electric vehicle where the traction battery can also be charged from an external electricity source (such as an electric socket). Mild hybrid diesel-electric vehicles are not included.

  ● Combined: a combined engine motor vehicle is one that uses two or more distinct non-electric power sources. Combination types include: Petrol/LPG, Diesel/LPG.

c.  Motor vehicle restrictions

  ● Restrictions: conditions imposed on a motor vehicle’s licence. Restrictions can be either temporary such as garaged, seized, resale, etc., or permanent (i.e. motor vehicle is indefinitely removed from circulation on national territory), such as exported, scrapped or destroyed. In this news release, only data of the four main restrictions (resale, exported, scrapped, garaged) are reported.

  ● Resale: a motor vehicle which has been de-licensed and put up for resale. The motor vehicle cannot be used on the road until licensed again when sold.

  ● Exported: a motor vehicle licensed in Malta which has been exported.

  ● Garaged: a motor vehicle no longer licensed for use on the road. This category excludes motor vehicles which have been scrapped or exported. A motor vehicle may be garaged for a particular period, then re-licensed after this period.

  ● Scrapped: a motor vehicle which has been scrapped/destroyed and therefore, indefinitely removed from circulation.

  ● Other: a motor vehicle which has been de-licensed for other reasons not listed above such as stolen, seized, engine removed, arrears issues and other minor restrictions.

7. Newly licensed motor vehicles’ data (new and used) shows the number of motor vehicles licensed for the first time to be used on Maltese roads. These values approximately indicate also the local sales of motor vehicles during the applicable period. Transfers of motor vehicles between owners are not included.

 
8. The stock change for each quarter =
Stock recorded in previous quarter
+ newly licensed motor vehicles in quarter under review
–  number of motor vehicles with restriction starting during quarter under review
+ number of motor vehicles with restriction ending during the quarter under review
The final number might differ slightly from the actual stock due to the cut-off dates of the different databases.
 
9. Net average daily increase of stock of licensed vehicles =               
stock recorded in quarter under review – stock recorded in previous quarter
number of days in quarter under review
 
10. Average daily increase of newly licensed motor vehicles =
newly licensed motor vehicles (new and used)
number of days in quarter under review
 
11. Statistics in this news release should be interpreted in the context of the COVID-19 situation.
 
12.  More information relating to this news release may be accessed at: 
 
13. References to this news release are to be cited appropriately.
 
14.  A detailed news release calendar is available online.
Vetturi bil-Mutur: L-Ewwel Kwart tal-2023
NR071/2023
Data tal-Ħruġ: 26 taʼ April 2023
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  • Matul l-ewwel kwart tal-2023, l-istokk tal-vetturi bil-liċenzja żdied bʼ1,816 fuq it-tliet xhur taʼ qabel. Fl-istess perjodu, kien hemm medja taʼ 52 vettura li, kuljum, ingħataw liċenzja ġdida.
  • Il-biċċa l-kbira tal-vetturi bʼliċenzja ġdida, 3,039 jew 64.6 fil-mija tat-total, kienu karozzi tal-passiġġieri; warajhom kien hemm il-muturi/roti megħjunin bʼenerġija elettrika bi 804 jew 17.1 fil-mija.
  • Magni li jitħaddmu bil-petrol kienu jgħoddu 58.6 fil-mija tat-total; warajhom kien hemm magni li jitħaddmu bid-diżil; u magni li jitħaddmu bl-elettriku u bl-elettriku u fjuwil ieħor; bʼ36.5 fil-mija u bi 2.9 fil-mija, rispettivament.
  • Meta mqabblin mar-rabaʼ kwart tal-2022, kienu rreġistrati żjidied taʼ 43.5 fil-mija, 15.4 fil-mija u 10.6 fil-mija fʼvetturi li jitħaddmu bʼtaħlita taʼ diżil u LPG; fʼvetturi li jitħaddmu bl-elettriku u fjuwil ieħor (diżil-elettriku), u fʼvetturi li jitħaddmu bl-elettriku u fjuwil ieħor (petrol-elettriku), rispettivament.
  • Matul l-ewwel tliet xhur tal-2023, in-numru taʼ vetturi ‘ġodda’ li ngħataw liċenzja ġdida kien akbar minn dak tal-vetturi ‘wżati’ bʼliċenzja ġdida, bʼ59.1 fil-mija u bʼ40.9 fil-mija tat-total, rispettivament.
Kalkulatur tal-Inflazzjoni Kalendarju tal-Istqarrijiet tal-Aħbarijiet Talbiet għat-Tagħrif Mistoqsijiet dwar il-Kodiċi tan-NACE
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