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The number of first registrations of passenger cars has declined significantly – the number of electric cars and plug-in hybrids is on the rise

The first registrations of new passenger cars declined by 21.4 per cent in Janu-ary–June 2020 compared to the previous year. There were fewer first registra-tions than ever before in the 2000s. However, more cars using alternative power sources were registered than the year before. The number of first registrations of motor caravans, mopeds and motorcycles also increased.

The first registrations of new passenger cars declined by 21.4 per cent in January–June 2020 compared to the previous year. “During the first half of the year, 47,385 passenger cars were registered. In 2019, the figure was 60,280. In January-March, 28,271 passenger cars were registered, which is 2.9 per cent less than in January-March 2019”, says Special Adviser Ari Väisänen.

“In April-June, the coronavirus situation could be seen in a sharp decline of the number of first registrations of passenger cars”, says Head of Team Heidi Salli. During this period, 19,114 new passenger cars were registered for the first time, which was 38.7 per cent less than in the corresponding period of the previous year. In January-June, the number of first registrations was lower than ever before in the 2000s - the second lowest number of the corresponding period is 52,088 passenger cars registered in 2009.

Statistics on first registrations of vehicles (External link) (in Finnish)

In January-June, the exceptional situation could also be seen in the number of first registrations in other vehicle categories. The number of first registrations of vans declined by 21.4 percent and of lorries by 26.6 per cent compared to the previous year.

However, the number of first registrations of motor caravans, mopeds and motorcycles increased. The first registrations of motor caravans increased by 8.9 per cent, of mopeds by 14 per cent and of motorcycles by 6.9 per cent compared to 2019.

 

First registrations by vehicle categories, 1-6/2019 and 1-6/2020
 

1-6/2019

1-6/2020

Change (%)

 

Passenger cars, in total,

60,280

47,385

-21.4 %

 

  of which motor caravans

1,048

1,141

8.9 %

 

  of which other passenger cars

59,232

46,244

-21.9 %

 

Vans

7,969

6,266

-21.4 %

 

Lorries

2,414

1,771

-26.6 %

 

Buses and coaches

184

114

-38.0 %

 

Mopeds

2,982

3,400

14.0 %

 

Motorcycles

2,268

2,424

6.9 %

 


Electric cars and hybrids continue to become more popular

Despite the decrease in the number of first registrations of passenger cars, significantly more cars using alternative power sources were registered during the first half of the year compared to 2019. The number of first registrations of electric cars increased by 51 per cent, of gas-powered cars by 81 per cent and of plug-in hybrids by 143 per cent. In January-June, the share of petrol and diesel cars of all the first registrations of passenger cars was 82.1 per cent, whereas it was 93.3 per cent in the previous year.

First registrations of passenger cars by power source, 1-6/2019 and 1-6/2020
 

1-6/2019

1-6/2020

Change, %

Petrol

43,515

31,372

-28 %

Diesel

12,739

7,529

-41 %

Electricity

995

1,499

51 %

Gas

627

1,135

81 %

Petrol/electricity (plug-in hybrid)

2,348

5,735

144 %

Diesel/electricity (plug-in hybrid)

56

115

105 %

By the end of June, 20,018 used passenger cars have been imported into Finland, which is 1.9 per cent less than in the corresponding period of the previous year. The popularity of alternative power sources can also be seen in the imported used cars. Imports of both electric cars and hybrids have increased compared to 2019.

The most popular car model is Toyota Corolla

During the first half of the year, the most popular passenger car models were Toyota Corolla (2,622), Skoda Octavia (1,975) and Toyota Yaris (1,519). The most popular makes of vans were Ford and Volkswagen.

The coronavirus situation had the least impact in North Karelia, where the first registrations of cars declined by 15.2 per cent compared to the previous year. The registrations declined the most in Ostrobothnia, by 28 per cent.

There was a peak in vehicle decommissioning in March

The exceptional situation caused an increase in vehicle decommissioning from 16 March to 5 April 2020. During the time period, approximately 10,000 more vehicles were decommissioned per week compared to the normal amount. In March 2020, 47,500 more vehicles were decommissioned compared to the previous year. The situation returned to normal from 6 April 2020.

 

More information

Statistics on first registrations (External link)

Traficom's statistics database (External link)

 

Special Adviser Ari Väisänen, ari.vaisanen(at)traficom.fi , +358 29 5346 177 (statistics)

Head of Team Heidi Salli, heidi.salli(at)traficom.fi, tel. +358 29 534 7247