In the first quarter of 2026, the stock of licensed motor vehicles increased by 3,245 over the previous quarter, the NSO said Wednesday.
At the end of March 2026, the stock of licensed motor vehicles stood at 460,648. Out of this total, 73.3 per cent were passenger cars, 14.3 per cent were commercial and agricultural motor vehicles and 11.9 per cent were motorcycles/E-bikes/PA-bikes, E-kick scooters, quadricycles and All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs). Buses and minibuses amounted to less than one per cent. During the quarter under review, the stock of licensed motor vehicles increased at a net average rate of 36 motor vehicles per day.
Newly licensed motor vehicles
Newly licensed motor vehicles put on the road during the period under review amounted to 5,680. The majority of newly licensed motor vehicles, 3,699 or 65.1 per cent of the total, were passenger cars, followed by motorcycles/E-bikes/PA-bikes with 1,197 or 21.1 per cent.
Newly licensed 'new' motor vehicles amounted to 3,174 or 55.9 per cent of the total, whereas newly licensed 'used' motor vehicles totalled 2,506 or 44.1 per cent. An average of 63 motor vehicles per day were newly licensed during the quarter under review.
Motor vehicles under restriction
During the first quarter of 2026, 6,963 motor vehicles were taken off the road due to restrictions. Out of these, 41.4 per cent were garaged, 29.1 per cent were resold and 28.1 per cent were scrapped. Motor vehicles that had their restriction ending during the quarter under review totalled 4,140. The majority were recorded as being garaged (52.9 per cent) or resold (46.3 per cent).
Motor energy type
As at the end of March 2026, 266,756 motor vehicles or 57.9 per cent of the total had petrol-powered engines. Diesel-powered motor vehicles reached 155,508 or 33.8 per cent of the total. Electric and plug-in hybrid motor vehicles accounted for 5.1 per cent of the entire stock, with a total of 23,387 motor vehicles. When compared to the previous quarter increases of 4.9 per cent, 4.8 per cent and 3.7 per cent were registered in plug-in hybrid (diesel-electric), mild hybrid (petrol-electric) and electric motor vehicles respectively.