Hybrid supplants petrol: 59% of cars sold in 2023 are hybrid or electric
Within five years, electric and hybrid passenger cars have supplanted petrol cars in terms of market share. This is what emerged from the first provisional figures on the registration of motor vehicles compiled by Statbel, the Belgian statistical office.
With a market share of 59% in 2023, hybrid and electric cars are the most popular new cars in Belgium. In 2019, they accounted for just 8% of sales. In 2023, out of a total of 481,079 cars sold, 284,608 are hybrid and electric cars. In 2019, the figure was 43,902 for a total of 557,970 cars sold.
In the face of hybrid and electric cars, the petrol car continues to lose ground, with a market share of 32% in 2023. This is a decrease of 18% compared to 2022 and of 47% compared to 2019.
The market share of new diesel cars has also sharply decreased to 8% in 2023, compared to 15% in 2022.
After three consecutive years of decline, 589,874 new vehicles were registered in Belgium. Among these, 481,079 are passenger cars. This is a 28% increase compared to the 374,597 passenger cars of 2022.
In 2023, there were almost two and a half times as many sales of strictly electric cars. 93,086 electric cars were sold in 2023, versus 37,760 in 2022.
Sales of new hybrid passenger cars (petrol or diesel + electric) increased by 44%, from 133,184 cars in 2022 to 191,522 in 2023.
In comparison, petrol car sales have only increased by 6%, with 154,056 cars in 2023 compared to 145,998 in 2022.
77% of newly registered hybrid and electric cars in 2023 are cars registered by enterprises, and 23% by individuals.
| Registration of new vehicles | 1998 | 2010 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | Evolution 2023/2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 549,172 | 642,086 | 550,668 | 506,131 | 470,735 | 589,874 | +25.3% |
| Passenger vehicles | 463,724 | 551,661 | 439,038 | 392,769 | 374,597 | 481,079 | +28.4% |
| Buses and coaches | 1,031 | 1,020 | 792 | 944 | 595 | 731 | +22.9% |
| Commercial vehicles for the transport of goods (a) | 54,711 | 56,793 | 75,810 | 75,786 | 59,619 | 71,153 | +19.3% |
| Tractors (b) | 5,495 | 3,409 | 3,311 | 4,278 | 5,253 | 6,088 | +15.9% |
| Agricultural tractors | 2,944 | 2,860 | 4,990 | 5,709 | 5,108 | 4,949 | -3.1% |
| Motorcycles (c) | 21,267 | 26,343 | 26,727 | 26,645 | 25,563 | 25,874 | +1.2% |
| (a) Lorries, delivery vans, cross-country vehicles and tank vehicles. (b) Tractors are commercial motor vehicles coupled to a semi-trailer (vehicle without front axle). (c) All motorcycles driving 40km/h or faster. That is all motorcycles and most mopeds. (d) Remark: The high number of registrations of second-hand agricultural tractors in 2014 is due to the introduction of the red G number plate (re-registration of agricultural tractors) https://mobilit.belgium.be/fr/route/immatriculer-et-radier/immatriculer… Source: Statbel (Statistics Belgium) based on administrative sources. |
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| Registration of second-hand vehicles* | 1998 | 2010 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | Evolution 2023/2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 755,199 | 776,324 | 792,440 | 844,333 | 763,297 | 808,284 | +5.9% |
| Passenger vehicles | 677,272 | 676,572 | 668,465 | 714,868 | 650,687 | 693,208 | +6.5% |
| Buses and coaches | 1,137 | 768 | 848 | 803 | 1,243 | 1,066 | -14.2% |
| Commercial vehicles for the transport of goods (a) | 66,048 | 87,584 | 110,480 | 114,647 | 98,108 | 101,502 | +3.5% |
| Tractors (b) | 4,698 | 3,568 | 4,630 | 5,030 | 4,872 | 4,183 | -14.1% |
| Agricultural tractors | 6,044 | 7,832 | 8,017 | 8,985 | 8,387 | 8,325 | -0.7% |
| (a) Lorries, delivery vans, cross-country vehicles and tank vehicles. (b) Tractors are commercial motor vehicles coupled to a semi-trailer (vehicle without front axle). (d) Remark: The high number of registrations of second-hand agricultural tractors in 2014 is due to the introduction of the red G number plate (re-registration of agricultural tractors) * Specialized vehicles not included. https://mobilit.belgium.be/fr/route/immatriculer-et-radier/immatriculer… Source: Statbel (Statistics Belgium) based on administrative sources. |
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Purpose and brief description
This statistic provides an overview of all new and second-hand motor vehicles in Belgium that were registered with the Vehicle Registration Service (D.I.V.) of the FPS Mobility in a certain period.
Population
Motor vehicles
Data collection method and sample size
Administrative data
Periodicity
Annually.
Release calendar
Results available 1 month after the reference period.
Definitions
Vehicle types: passenger cars, buses and coaches, lorries, tractors, agricultural tractors, specialized vehicles, motorcycles
Commercial vehicles for the transport of goods: Lorries, delivery vans, cross-country vehicles and tank vehicles.
Fuel type: petrol, diesel, gas, electricity
Tractors are commercial motor vehicles coupled to a semi-trailer (vehicle without front axle).
Specialized vehicles are slow vehicles whose dimensions and weight exceed the established maximum limits. The maximum authorized weight in Belgium is 44 tonnes. Vehicles of this category may therefore only be used on public roads under strict conditions.
All motorcycles driving 40km/h or faster. That is all motorcycles and most mopeds.
Remarks
The high number of registrations of second-hand agricultural tractors is due to the introduction of the red G number plate (re-registration of agricultural tractors)