Registered vehicles, 2008

A total of 2 197 193 private cars and 379 343 vans had Norwegian number plates at the end of 2008. This is approximately 60 000 more cars than at the end of 2007. This growth of 2.4 per cent is the lowest in five years. From 2006 to 2007, the stock of cars increased by 4.2 per cent.

Older cars

The average age of registered private cars was 10.3 years at the end of 2008, compared with 10.2 at the corresponding time the year before. The vans were 6.9 years old on average, compared with 6.8 the year before.

Volkswagen and Toyota on top

The most popular makes were Volkswagen and Toyota. Volkswagen was in first place for private cars, with 294 000 cars compared with 264 000 Toyotas. The situation was the opposite for vans, with Toyota on top with 71 000 cars and Volkswagen close behind with 69 000 cars. These two makes had an even bigger share of the total number of cars at the end of 2008 than at the end of 2007.

Fewer lorries

The number of registered lorries has fallen over the last four years. At the end of 2008, the number of lorries was 3.6 per cent lower than one year earlier. It is primarily the lorries with the lowest carrying capacity that disappear, while the number of lorries with a carrying capacity of more than 7 tonnes of goods is increasing.

More cars scrapped

During 2008, 107 153 cars were scrapped for refund. Compared with 2007, this was an increase of 7.3 per cent. In 2007, the administration of the scrap vehicle deposit system was changed and the responsibility for the collection and handling of wrecked cars was transferred from the State to the car industry. The number of scrapped cars was considerably lower in 2007 than in previous years.

The average age at the time of scrapping was 18.7 years for private cars and 15.5 years for vans. The private cars that were kept longest were Mercedes, Chevrolet, Volvo and Saab. All these makes had an average age at scrapping of more than 20 years.

In evaluating the material of cars scrapped for refund, the makes' market share over time should be taken into consideration. It must also be emphasised that the average age of scrapped vehicles of different makes cannot necessarily be used as an estimate of the age of the corresponding vehicles manufactured today.

Tables:

• Table 1 Stock of vehicles and population, by county. 2008
• Table 2 Average age of private car or van, by county of residence of the vehicle owner, 31 December
• Table 3 Number of private cars currently licensed, by age and make. Average vehicle age. 31 December 2008.
• Table 4 Percentage of private cars currently registered, by make and age. 31 December 2008
• Table 5 Vans currently licensed, by age and make. 31 December 2008
• Table 6 Percentage of vans currently licensed, by make and age. 31 December 2008
• Table 7 Vehicles scrapped for refund, by county. 2008
• Table 8 Private cars scrapped for refund, by make
• Table 9 Vans scrapped for refund, by make