The stock of motor vehicles rose by 1,021 in the fourth quarter of 2006 to stand at 278,421, the National Statistics Office reported yesterday, basing its statistics on data provided by the Malta Transport Authority.

Of the 278,421 licensed motor vehicles at the end of last December, 76.1 per cent were private vehicles, while commercial vehicles made up 16.3 per cent.

New licences issued during the fourth quarter of 2006 amounted to 2,973. Private vehicles accounted for 2,299 new licences, or 77.3 per cent of the total. In the reference quarter, private vehicles falling within class 1 (