Press release: 12.462-053/21

5.7% fewer new passenger car registrations in February 2021, ongoing growth in alternatively powered passenger cars

Vienna, 2021-03-09 –19 863 passenger cars were newly registered in February 2021, according to Statistics Austria. This corresponds to a decrease of 5.7% compared to February of the previous year. There were fewer registrations of petrol-powered (-8.9%, 8 842 cars) and diesel-powered passenger cars (-37.4%, 5 181 cars). On the other hand, electric-powered passenger cars (+86.6%, 1 831 cars) recorded a strong growth in new registrations. New registrations of hybrid passenger cars also increased (petrol/electric: +84.0%, 2 929 cars and diesel/electric: +128.0%, 1 067 cars). The total number of new registrations of motor vehicles increased by 0.1% to 27 191 motor vehicles.

VW remained market leader with a market share of 15.8% and 3 132 new registrations, followed by Skoda (10.1%, 2 008) and Seat (8.7%, 1 721). Among the Top-10-brands, Ford (+23.8%), Audi (+23.7%) and Seat (+7.7%) registered increases compared to February 2020. Decreases were recorded by Opel (-19.4%), Fiat (-16.8%), Mercedes (-15.3%), Renault (-11.6%), BMW (-9.7%), VW (-5.3%) and Skoda (-2.4%).

Among purely electric-powered passenger cars, Tesla (share: 19.8%, +49.0%) and VW (share: 17.7%, +345.2%) recorded the highest number of new registrations, followed by Fiat (share: 8.3%, no electric passenger car registrations in February 2020), Renault (share: 7.5%, -24.2%) and Kia (share: 7.1%, +128.1%).

New registrations of commercial vehicles increased for N1-class lorries (+14.8%, 3 794 vehicles), N2-class lorries (+84.0%, 46 vehicles) and tractors used for agriculture and forestry (+17.1%, 617 vehicles) compared to February 2020. Decreases were observed for N3-class lorries (-12.3%, 222 vehicles) and articulated lorries (-2.6%, 222 vehicles).

In the two-wheelers market, more motorcycles (+35.1%, 1 082) and scooters (+25.1%, 538) were newly registered in February 2021.

For more detailed results and further information concerning statistics of motor vehicles please refer to our website.

Information on methods, definitions: Motor vehicle statistics (registrations of new and used vehicles as well as the stock of vehicles) are secondary statistics, compiled on the basis of daily data files sent to Statistics Austria by Austria’s association of insurance companies (VVO). VVO, in turn, receives data by the insurances’ registrations offices, responsible for registrations, de-registrations and rectifications of motor vehicles and trailers. 
Within motor vehicle statistics, all motor vehicles, once nationally or internationally registered, are levied, irrespective of the registration’s duration.

For further inquiries please contact Directorate Spatial Statistics, Statistics Austria:  
Gerda FISCHER, Tel. +43 1 71128-7566 resp. gerda.fischer@statistik.gv.at, 
Stefan PREMM, Tel.: +43 1 71128-7598 resp. stefan.premm@statistik.gv.at and 
Thomas JANKA, Tel.: +43 1 71128-7575 resp. thomas.janka@statistik.gv.at

Media owner, producer and publisher: 
STATISTICS AUSTRIA, Federal Institution under Public Law 
1110 Vienna, Austria, Guglgasse 13, Tel.: +43 1 71128-7777 
presse@statistik.gv.at  
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