Speaking at the opening of the 2007 Motor Fair at the Trade Fairs grounds in Naxxar, Minister Mugliett said that since 2004, there has been a steady decline in the percentage of used cars being purchased when compared to new cars. He said that in 2004, the Maltese purchased 7,003 new cars and 5,087 used cars, a percentage of 42.1 per cent. In 2005, the number of new vehicles purchased increased to 7,568 while the number of used cars bought amounted to 5,385, a percentage of 41.6 per cent.

Last year, 5,047 used cars were purchased while 7,767 new cars were bought, and the percentage continued to decline to 39.4 per cent.

He said these figures showed that the measures being introduced by the government as incentives for people to purchase new cars rather than used ones were working.

Mr Mugliett also mentioned the initiatives taken by the Malta Transport Authority to curb pollution produced by vehicles, including the SMS alert scheme through which nearly 1,200 cars were booked for emitting too much exhaust.

Minister Mugliett also spoke about the action being taken by the European Commission against Malta in connection with the registration tax on used cars. He said the government was analysing how it could revise this tax in order to bring it in line with the EU rules.

“What is sure is that Malta does not intend becoming a scrap yard of the European Union’s used vehicles. This means that the revision, while in conformity with the EU Treaty, will not make the purchase of used vehicles more interesting than purchasing a new car,” he said.

The 18th edition of the Motor Fair will run till Sunday evening.