A motor vehicle, also known as a motorized vehicle, automotive vehicle, automobile, or road vehicle, is a self-propelled land vehicle, commonly wheeled, that does not operate on rails (such as trains or trams), does not fly (such as airplanes or helicopters), does not float on water (such as boats or ships), and is used for the transportation of people or cargo.
The vehicle propulsion is provided by an engine or motor, usually a gasoline/diesel internal combustion engine or an electric traction motor, or some combination of the two as in hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles. For legal purposes, motor vehicles are often identified within many vehicle classes, including cars, buses, motorcycles, off-road vehicles, light trucks, and regular trucks. These classifications vary according to the legal codes of each country. ISO 3833:1977 is the standard for road vehicle types, terms, and definitions. Typically, to avoid requiring people with disabilities from having to possess an operator's license to use one, or requiring tags and insurance, powered wheelchairs are specifically excluded by law from being considered motor vehicles.
, there were more than one billion motor vehicles in use in the world, excluding off-road vehicles and heavy construction equipment. The US publisher Ward's estimates that as of 2019, there were 1.4 billion motor vehicles in use in the world. And now according to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), the global number of motor vehicles in use reached around 1.55 billion by 2023, reflecting steady growth driven by rising ownership in Asia and Africa.
Global vehicle ownership per capita in 2010 was 148 vehicles in operation (VIO) per 1000 people. By the end of 2024, China's total number of registered motor vehicles surpassed 440 million, including more than 36 million new energy vehicles, according to data from the Ministry of Public Security of China. The United States has the highest vehicle ownership per capita in the world, with 832 vehicles in operation per 1000 people in 2016. Also, China became the world's largest new car market in 2009. In 2022, a total of 85 million cars and commercial vehicles were built, led by China, which built a total of 27 million motor vehicles.
Definitions and terminology
In 1968, the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic gave one of the first international definitions of a motor vehicle:
Other sources might provide different definitions; for instance, in 1977, ISO 3833:1977 provides different definitions.
Ownership trends
The U.S. publisher Ward's estimates that, as of 2010, there were 1.015 billion motor vehicles in use worldwide. This figure represents the number of cars, trucks (light, medium, and heavy duty), and buses, but does not include off-road vehicles or heavy construction equipment. The world vehicle population passed the 500 million-unit mark in 1986, from 250 million motor vehicles in 1970. Between 1950 and 1970, the vehicle population doubled roughly every 10 years. Navigant Consulting forecasts that the global stock of light-duty motor vehicles will reach 2 billion units in 2035.
Global vehicle ownership in 2010 was 148 vehicles in operation per 1,000 people, a ratio of 1:6.75 vehicles per person, slightly down from 150 vehicles per 1,000 people in 2009, a rate of 1:6.63 vehicles per person. The global motorization rate increased in 2013 to 174 vehicles per 1000 people. In developing countries vehicle ownership rates rarely exceed 200 cars per 1,000 population.
The following table summarizes the evolution of motor vehicle registrations in the world from 1960 to 2019:
Historical trend of worldwide vehicle registrations1960-2017 (thousands) See Tables 3.1 and 3.2 for figures from 1960 to 2005 See Tables 3.2 and 3.3 for 2009 figures See Tables 3.2 and 3.3 for 2010 and 2012 figures See Tables 3.2 and 3.3 for 2010, 2012 and 2014 figures See Tables 3.2 and 3.3 See Tables 3.2 and 3.3 Type of vehicle 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 2010 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019Car registrations(1)98,305193,479320,390444,900548,558617,914 723,567 931,260 973,353 1,015,643 1,042,274 1,083,528 Truck and bus registrations28,58352,89990,592138,082203,272245,798 309,395 332,434 348,919 356,044 389,174 406,770World total126,888246,378410,982582,982751,830863,712 1,032,962 1,263,694 1,322,272 1,371,687 1,431,448 1,490,298Note (1) Car registrations do not include U.S. light trucks (SUVs, minivans, and pickups) that are used for personal travel. The US accounts for these vehicles among trucks.
Alternative fuels and vehicle technology adoption
Since the early 2000s, the number of alternative fuel vehicles has been increasing, driven by several governments' interest in promoting their widespread adoption through public subsidies and other non-financial incentives. Governments have adopted these policies due to a combination of factors, including environmental concerns, high oil prices, and a lower dependence on imported oil.
Among the fuels other than traditional petroleum fuels (gasoline or diesel fuel), and alternative technologies for powering the engine of a motor vehicle, the most popular options promoted by different governments are: natural gas vehicles, LPG powered vehicles, flex-fuel vehicles, use of biofuels, hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, electric cars, and hydrogen fuel cell cars.
Since the late 2000s, China, European countries, the United States, Canada, Japan, and other developed countries have been providing strong financial incentives to promote the adoption of plug-in electric vehicle. As of 2024, the global fleet of plug-in electric vehicles (battery-electric and plug-in hybrids) exceeded 40 million units, with China and Europe accounting for over two-thirds of total sales. Global sales of plug-in cars totaled 3 million in 2020, 43% up from 2018. The market share of plug-in vehicles reached 4.2% globally, up from 2.5% in 2019. Tesla was the best-selling brand with almost 500,000 units delivered. , in addition, the medium and heavy commercial segments add another 700,000 units to the global stock of plug-in electric vehicles. At the end of 2019 the global fleet of plug-ins was 7,5 million, counting light vehicles. Medium and heavy commercial vehicles add another 700000 units to the global stock of plug-ins. In 2020, the global market share of plug-in passenger car sales was 4.2%, up from 2.5% in 2019. Nevertheless, despite government support and the rapid growth experienced, the plug-in electric car segment represented just about 1 out of every 250 vehicles (0.4%) on the world's roads by the end of 2018.
China
The People's Republic of China had 322 million motor vehicles in use at the end of September 2018, of which 235 million were passenger cars, making China the country with the largest motor vehicle fleet in the world. The number of passenger cars in use in China totaled 235 million units as of the end of September 2018, of which, 2.21 million units new energy cars In 2016, the motor vehicle fleet consisted of 165.6 million cars and 28.4 million trucks and buses. About 13.6 million vehicles were sold in 2009, and motor vehicle registrations in 2010 increased to more than 16.8 million units, representing nearly half the world's fleet increase in 2010. Ownership per capita rose from 26.6 vehicles per 1000 people in 2006 to 141.2 in 2016.
The stock of highway-legal plug-in electric or new energy vehicles in China totaled 2.21 million units by the end of September 2018, of which 81% are all-electric vehicles. These figures include heavy-duty commercial vehicles, such as buses and sanitation trucks, which account for about 11% of the total stock. China is also the world's largest electric bus market, reaching about 385,000 units by the end of 2017. Click on "Download File" to get the full report, 15 pp. See pp. 4–5, and 24–25 and Statistical annex, pp. 34–37.
The number of cars and motorcycles in China increased by a factor of 20 between 2000 and 2010. This explosive growth has allowed China to become the world's largest new car market, overtaking the US in 2009. Nevertheless, ownership per capita is 58 vehicles per 1000 people, or a ratio of 1:17.2 vehicles to people, still well below the rate of motorization of developed countries.
United States Historical evolution of vehicle ownership rates in the U.S. (Selected years 1900–2016) Year Veh. per1000 people Year Veh. per1000 people Year Veh. per1000 people19000.111940 245.63 1990 773.41905 0.941945 221.80 2000800.31910 5.071950 323.71 2005 837.31920 86.78 1960410.37 2010 808.41930 217.34 1970 545.35 2015 821.51935 208.6 1980710.71 2016 831.9
The United States has the second-largest motor vehicle fleet in the world, after China. , had a motor vehicle stock of 259.14 million, of which 246 million were light-duty vehicles, consisting of 112.96 million passenger cars and 133 million light trucks (including SUVs). A total of 11.5 million heavy trucks were registered at the end 2016 See Quick Facts and Tables 3.4 through 3.11 Vehicle ownership per capita in the U.S. is also the highest in the world, the U.S. Department of Energy (USDoE) reports a motorization rate of 831.9 vehicles in operation per 1000 people in 2016, or a ratio of 1:1.2 vehicles to people.
According to USDoE, the motorization rate peaked in 2007 at 844.5 vehicles per 1,000 people. In terms of licensed drivers, as of 2009, the country had 1.0 vehicle for every licensed driver, and 1.87 vehicles per household. See Table 8.5 Passenger car registrations in the United States declined -11.5% in 2017 and -12.8% in 2018.
, the stock of alternative fuel vehicles in the United States included over 20 million flex-fuel cars and light trucks, the world's second-largest flexible-fuel fleet in the world after Brazil. However, actual use of ethanol fuel is significantly limited due to the lack of E85 refueling infrastructure.
Regarding the electrified segment, the fleet of hybrid electric vehicles in the United States ranks second in the world, after Japan, with more than 4 million units sold through April 2016. Since the introduction of the Tesla Roadster electric car in 2008, cumulative sales of highway legal plug-in electric vehicles in the United States passed one million units in September 2018. The U.S. stock of plug-in vehicles is the second largest after China (2.21 million by September 2018).
, the country's fleet also includes more than 160,000 natural gas vehicles, mainly transit buses and delivery fleets. Despite its relatively small size, natural gas use accounted for about 52% of all alternative fuels consumed by alternative transportation fuel vehicles in the U.S. in 2009.
Europe
The 27 European Union (EU-27) member countries had a fleet of over 256 million in 2008, and passenger cars accounted for 87% of the union's fleet. The five largest markets, Germany (17.7%), Italy (15.4%), France (13.3%), the UK (12.5%), and Spain (9.5%), accounted for 68% of the region's total registered fleet in 2008. The EU-27 member countries had in 2009 an estimated ownership rate of 473 passenger cars per 1000 people. Eurostat defines this indicator "as the number of passenger cars per 1000 inhabitants. A passenger car is a road motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, intended for the carriage of passengers and designed to seat no more than nine persons (including the driver); the term "passenger car" therefore covers microcars (need no permit to be driven), taxis and hired passenger cars, provided that they have fewer than 10 seats; this category may also include pick-ups."