Historic fall in the number of cars in Belgium
For the first time since World War II, the number of passenger cars decreases in our country. The Covid-19 pandemic undoubtedly had an impact on these figures. On 1 August 2020, there were 5,888,589 passenger cars in Belgium, compared to 5,889,210 a year earlier. This is a slight but noteworthy decrease of 0.01 %, while the number of passenger cars increased by 1.27 % per year on average these past 10 years.
Petrol supplants diesel
Over the past 5 years, the number of diesel cars has been decreasing a little faster every year. In 2020, there were 6.3 % fewer diesel cars than a year earlier. So, on 1 August, there were 2,815,755 diesel cars. Simultaneously, the number of petrol cars continues to increase (+5 % in 2020) and stands at 2,843,903 units. Petrol cars now account for 48.3 % of the passenger car fleet, against 47.8 % for diesel.
Far behind these two main engine types in Belgium, the 154,807 hybrid cars rank third and account for 2.6 % of the total. This type of engine increased fivefold over 5 years. Electric cars “only” account for 0.4 % of the fleet, despite the most significant annual increase (+56.4 %): there are 23,983 of them on our roads. Finally, we see a slight increase in cars running on gas (+0.2 %) to 14,957.
Besides passenger cars, Belgium has 16,422 buses and coaches, 910,356 commercial vehicles for the transport of goods, 52,802 tractors, 196,504 agricultural tractors and 78,469 special motor vehicles, bringing the total of the vehicle fleet to 7,143,142 units. Furthermore, 507,996 motorcycles are registered in Belgium.
Size of the vehicle fleet (2016-2020)
| On 1st August of the year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger vehicles | 5,712,061 | 5,785,447 | 5,853,782 | 5,889,210 | 5,888,589 | ||||||
| - petrol | 2,199,038 | 2,335,349 | 2,518,942 | 2,709,604 | 2,843,903 | ||||||
| - diesel | 3,424,592 | 3,339,034 | 3,193,658 | 3,005,928 | 2,815,755 | ||||||
| - gas | 17,238 | 15,965 | 15,500 | 14,924 | 14,957 | ||||||
| - with an electric motor | 4,368 | 6,552 | 9,244 | 15,338 | 23,983 | ||||||
| - hybrid | 44,364 | 63,740 | 87,012 | 110,984 | 154,807 | ||||||
| - not specified | 22,461 | 24,807 | 29,426 | 32,432 | 35,184 | ||||||
| Inhabitants per passenger car on 1st August (d) | 1.97 | 1.96 | 1.94 | 1.94 | 1.95 | ||||||
| N/A: Not (yet) available. (d) Population figure on 1st January of the year |
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Size of the vehicle fleet (2016-2020)
| On 1st August of the year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total vehicle fleet (including motorcycles) | 7,301,766 | 7,419,405 | 7,533,172 | 7,614,082 | 7,651,138 | ||||||
| Passenger vehicles | 5,712,061 | 5,785,447 | 5,853,782 | 5,889,210 | 5,888,589 | ||||||
| Buses and coaches | 16,040 | 16,062 | 16,125 | 16,542 | 16,422 | ||||||
| Lorries, delivery vans, cross-country vehicles and tank vehicles | 796,930 | 826,742 | 856,096 | 885,487 | 910,356 | ||||||
| Tractors (a) | 45,749 | 47,478 | 50,230 | 52,694 | 52,802 | ||||||
| Agricultural tractors | 188,122 | 189,938 | 192,187 | 194,399 | 196,504 | ||||||
| Specialized vehicles (b) | 69,538 | 71,754 | 74,257 | 76,640 | 78,469 | ||||||
| Motorcycles (c) | 473,326 | 481,984 | 490,495 | 499,110 | 507,996 | ||||||
| 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. |
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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.