MEDIA RELEASE
30 July 2014	Embargoed: 11.30 am (Canberra time)	110/2014

Tasmania has recorded 861 vehicles per 1,000 residents in 2014, the highest number of registered vehicles per head of population in the country, according to the 2014 Motor Vehicle Census released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The 2014 Motor Vehicle Census makes comparisons on the size of the motor vehicle fleet compared with the estimated resident population. Additional information such as vehicle type, vehicle characteristics including year of manufacturer and type of fuel used is available as part of this census.

Ms Sybille McKeown, ABS Director of Transport Statistics said Tasmania is driving the way with the highest number of registered vehicles per head of population. Western Australia is right behind the wheel at 840 registered vehicles per 1,000 residents.

"The report showed an increase of 26 vehicles per 1,000 residents Australia-wide since 2009 to bring our national figures to 756 vehicles per 1,000 residents in 2014.

"Tasmania recorded the largest increase over the past five years compared with the other states and territories, an increase of 63 vehicles per 1,000 residents," said Ms McKeown.

The 2014 Motor Vehicle Census showed the proportion of Passenger vehicles in the Australian vehicle fleet continued to steadily decline. A decrease from 77 per cent in 2009 to 75 per cent of the fleet in 2014. The decrease has largely been off-set by Light commercial vehicles which have increased from 15 per cent of the vehicle fleet in 2009 to 16 per cent in 2014.

For further information can be found in Motor Vehicle Census (cat. no 9309.0), available for free download from the ABS website (www.abs.gov.au).

Media notes

• Passenger vehicles include cars, stations wagons, four-wheel drive passenger vehicles and forward control passenger vehicles containing up to nine seats (including the driver's seat).
• Light commercial vehicles are primarily constructed for the carriage of goods. This category includes utilities, panel-vans, cab-chassis and forward control load carry vehicles with a GVM less than or equal to 3.5 tonnes.
• When reporting ABS data, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) must be attributed as the source.
• Media requests and interviews - contact the ABS Communications Section on 1300 175 070.

State/Territory	2009	2013	2014
Australia	730	749	756
New South Wales	652	678	683
Victoria	755	771	774
Queensland	768	782	790
South Australia	757	781	791
Western Australia	828	826	840
Tasmania	798	853	861
Northern Territory	579	623	627
Australian Capital Territory	703	725	727