As at end of December 2007, the stock of licensed motor vehicles stood at 287,120. Of these, 76.1 per cent were private vehicles, while commercial vehicles accounted for 16.3 per cent.

New licences issued during the fourth quarter of 2007 amounted to 3,138. Private vehicles accounted for 2,257 new licences, or 71.9 per cent of the total. In the reference quarter, the majority of new licences were issued to private vehicles falling within “Class One” (

This class accounted for 1,364 new licences, while vehicles in “Class Two” (1301-1449 cc) accounted for 258.

The number of newly-licensed “new” motor vehicles amounted to 1,849, or 58.9 per cent of the total, while the number of newly-licensed “used” motor vehicles amounted to 1,289.

On an annual basis, new licences issued during 2007 amounted to 12,589 or 1.8 per cent less than the previous year. Private vehicles accounted for 8,793 new licences or a decrease of 6.1 per cent over the preceding year. In 2007, newly-licensed “new” motor vehicles totaled 7,666 implying a decrease of 1.3 per cent over the previous year. Newly-licensed “used” motor vehicles amounted to 4,923 in 2007, resulting in 2.5 per cent less than in 2006.

Scrapped and exported

587 vehicles were scrapped in the period under review. Private vehicles accounted for 517 scrapped vehicles, or 88.1 per cent of the total. At 359, “Class One” vehicles (

Exported vehicles amounted to nine, a decrease of 34 over the third quarter of 2007.

On an annual basis, 2,495 vehicles were scrapped in 2007 or 15.6 per cent less than the preceding year. Private vehicles accounted for the largest proportion of scrapped vehicles, totalling 2,148 or 86.One per cent of the total.

In 2007, 71 vehicles were exported or seven more than the previous year, the majority being private vehicles.