Vehicle stock

93.6% increase in electric cars in 2023

Mobility
93.6% increase in electric cars in 2023

On 1 August 2023, there were 6,030,700 passenger cars in Belgium, compared to 5,927,912 a year earlier. This is a 1.4% increase. The number of cars has increased by 0.94% per year on average over the last ten years. This is what emerged from the new figures of Statbel, the Belgian statistical office.

Fully electric cars have almost doubled in one year, with a 93.6% increase. There were 71,651 electric cars in 2022 ; there are 138,749 of them in 2023.

It is important to note that 80.8% of these electric cars are registered by enterprises. Even though electric cars are becoming increasingly popular in Belgium, only 26,440 cars (19.1%) are owned by individuals and 112,056 by enterprises.

Hybrid cars currently account for 8.9% of the vehicle fleet and have greatly passed the 530,000 car mark: 537,817 hybrid cars compared to only 375,107 in 2022 (+43.4%). Here too, company cars represent the majority, but to a lesser extent than fully electric cars. 313,723 hybrid cars are registered by enterprises (58.3%), while 222,065 are owned by individuals (41.3%).

The number of gas cars has increased by 14.8% in 2023 to 20,373.

Number of passenger cars per motor fuel and type of owner in 2023

2023 Type of owner Total
Enterprise Private Unknown
Petrol 334,574 2,687,848 73,831 3,096,253
Diesel 444,787 1,746,059 10,703 2,201,549
Petrol/diesel + Electric 313,723 222,065 2,029 537,817
Electric 112,056 26,440 253 138,749
Gas 913 19,001 459 20,373
Other 7,578 9,748 18,633 35,959
Total 1,213,631 4,711,161 105,908 6,030,700

Since 2015, the number of diesel passenger cars has been decreasing a little faster every year. In 2023, there were 9.2 % fewer diesel cars than a year earlier. So, on 1 August, there were 2,201,549 diesel cars. Simultaneously and just like in 2022, the number of petrol cars continues to increase (+2.5% in 2023) and stands at 3,096,253 units. Petrol cars now account for 51.34% of the passenger car fleet, against 36.51% for diesel.

Besides passenger cars, Belgium has 16,449 buses and coaches, 973,447 commercial vehicles for the transport of goods, 56,222 tractors, 206,405 agricultural tractors and 85,625 special motor vehicles. Furthermore, 541,665 motorcycles are registered in Belgium, bringing the total of the vehicle fleet to 7,910,513 units.

Evolution of the vehicle fleet 2021-2023

On 1 August 2021 2022 2023 2022/2021 2023/2022
Vehicle fleet on 1 August (including motorcycles) 7,751,422 7,796,877 7,910,513 +0.6% +1.5%
Passenger cars 5,927,912 5,947,479 6,030,700 +0.3% +1.4%
- petrol 2,951,770 3,021,102 3,096,253 +2.3% +2.5%
- diesel 2,623,556 2,424,932 2,201,549 -7.6% -9.2%
- gas 15,999 17,740 20,373 +10.9% +14.8%
- electricity 40,851 71,651 138,749 +75.4% +93.6%
- hybrid 258,916 375,107 537,817 +44.9% +43.4%
- not mentioned 36,820 36,947 35,959 +0.3% -2.7%
Buses and coaches 16,628 16,557 16,449 -0.4% -0.7%
Motor vehicles for the transport of goods (a) 946,427 958,553 973,447 +1.3% +1.6%
Tractors (b) 53,899 55,075 56,222 +2.2% +2.1%
Agricultural tractors 200,332 203,472 206,405 +1.6% +1.4%
Special motor vehicles (d) 80,876 82,634 85,625 +2.2% +3.6%
Motorcycles (c) 525,348 533,107 541,665 +1.5% +1.6%
Inhabitants per passenger car on 1 August 1.9 2.0 1.9 +0.5% -0.5%
(a) Lorries, delivery , vans, cross-country vehicles and tank vehicles.
(b) Road tractors are commercial motor vehicules to which semi-trailers (vehicule without front axle) are hitched.
(c) All motorcycles doing more than 40 km/h, i.e. all motorcycles and most mopeds
(d) The special vehicles are slow vehicles the dimensions or weight of which exceed the normally allowed maximum values
Table 1
Content

Size of the vehicle fleet (2018-2023)

On 1st August of the year 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Passenger vehicles 5,853,782 5,889,210 5,888,589 5,927,912 5,947,479 6,030,700
- petrol 2,518,942 2,709,604 2,843,903 2,951,770 3,021,102 3,096,253
- diesel 3,193,658 3,005,928 2,815,755 2,623,556 2,424,932 2,201,549
- gas 15,500 14,924 14,957 15,999 17,740 20,373
- with an electric motor 9,244 15,338 23,983 40,851 71,651 138,749
- hybrid 87,012 110,984 154,807 258,916 375,107 537,817
- not specified 29,426 32,432 35,184 36,820 36,947 35,959
Inhabitants per passenger car on 1st August (d) 1.94 1.94 1.95 1.94 1.95 1.94
N/A: Not (yet) available.
(d) Population figure on 1st January of the year
Table 2
Content

Size of the vehicle fleet (2018-2023)

On 1st August of the year 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Total vehicle fleet (including motorcycles) 7,533,172 7,614,082 7,651,138 7,751,422 7,796,877 7,910,513
Passenger vehicles 5,853,782 5,889,210 5,888,589 5,927,912 5,947,479 6,030,700
Busses and coaches 16,125 16,542 16,422 16,628 16,557 16,449
Lorries, delivery vans, cross-country vehicles and tank vehicles 856,096 885,487 910,356 946,427 958,553 973,447
Tractors (a) 50,230 52,694 52,802 53,899 55,075 56,222
Agricultural tractors 192,187 194,399 196,504 200,332 203,472 206,405
Specialized vehicles (b) 74,257 76,640 78,469 80,876 82,634 85,625
Motorcycles (c) 490,495 499,110 507,996 525,348 533,107 541,665
N/A: Not (yet) available.
(a) Tractors are commercial motor vehicles coupled to a semi-trailer (vehicle without front axle).
(b) 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.
(c) All motorcycles driving 40km/h or faster. That is all motorcycles and most mopeds.
Dashboard
Content

Purpose and brief description

The vehicle fleet gives an overview of all motorised vehicles registered in Belgium on 1st August

Population

Motor vehicle / Vehicle fleet

Data collection method and sample size

Administrative data

Frequency

Annually

Timing of publication

Results available 1 month after the reference period.

Definitions

Vehicle types: passenger cars, buses and coaches, lorries, tractors, agricultural tractors, specialized vehicles, motorcycles

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.