9309.0 - Motor Vehicle Census, Australia, 31 Mar 2009 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 17/11/2009   
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MEDIA RELEASE
November 17, 2009
Embargo: 11.30 am (AEDT)
84/2009

Australia's love of motorcycles continues to grow: ABS

Motorcycle popularity in Australia continued to grow at a faster rate than any other vehicle type in the twelve months to March 2009, with registrations up by 10.0%. Motorcycle (including scooter) registrations have increased by 57.5% over the five years to 2009, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

This popularity saw motorcycles earn a 4.0% fleet share of all vehicles registered in Australia, rising from 2.9% in 2004. This compares with passenger vehicles, which have dropped from a 78.5% fleet share in 2004 to 76.7% in 2009.

Increases in motorcycle registrations over this five year period have been observed in all states and territories, with Western Australia recording the largest percentage increase (75.9%), followed by the Northern Territory (70.2%).

The smallest percentage increase was in Victoria where registrations of motorcycles at 31 March 2009 were 44.1% above those recorded 5 years earlier.

Data from the annual Motor Vehicle Census shows that 15.7 million vehicles were registered in Australia in 2009. This equated to 72 vehicles for every 100 Australian residents. In the 12 months to March 2009 the total number of vehicle registrations grew by 2.5%.

Over the past 12 months, total diesel registered vehicles in Australia rose by 9.8%. This continues a five year trend, with the total number of vehicles registered with diesel fuel increasing by 53.1% since 2004. Over the same period, diesel registered passenger vehicles increased by 80.0%, and light commercial vehicles registered with diesel fuel have increased 60.3%.

The average age of vehicles remained at 9.9 years in 2009, after falling from a high of 10.7 years in 1998. Tasmania had the oldest vehicles, at 11.9 years on average, while the Northern Territory had the youngest at 8.8 years.

Further details are in Motor Vehicle Census (cat. no. 9309.0), available free from the ABS website <www.abs.gov.au>.