At the end of 1999 there were about 1,730,000 vehicles in Israel, an increase of about 4 percent compared with the end of 1998. Thereof, about 1,317,000 vehicles were private cars; about 292 thousand were trucks; about 76 thousand were motorcycles; about 16,200 were minibuses; about 11,300 were buses; about 13,800 were taxis (an increase of about 9 percent) and about 3,900 were special vehicles.

During the year 1999, there was an addition of about 161 thousand vehicles, thereof about 145 thousand new vehicles (about 73 thousand were from production year 1999, and about 72 thousand were from production year 2000). In this period, there was a subtraction of about 106 thousand vehicles and the net addition of vehicles amounted to about 55 thousand.

Of the new vehicles that were added in 1999, about 104 thousand were private cars, mostly the product of the following manufacturers: Mazda - about 18.1 percent, Hyundai - about 8.1 percent, Volkswagen - about 8.0 percent, Toyota - about 5.4 percent, Fiat - about 5.3 percent, Peugeot - about 5.2 percent, Daewoo - about 4.9 percent and Renault - about 4.7 percent

It should be noted that in 1998 their share of production was as follows: Mazda - about 14.2 percent, Hyundai - about 6.3 percent, Volkswagen - about 6.4 percent, Toyota - about 5.7 percent, Fiat - about 4.5 percent, Peugeot - about 4.6 percent, Daewoo - about 3.6 percent and Renault - about 4.3 percent

The average age of motorized vehicles was 6.1 years at the end of 1999, as in 1998.

In 1999, about 38.4 percent of the vehicles on Israel's roads were produced in Japan (compared to about 38.0 percent in 1998), about 11.8 percent in France (about 11.9 percent in 1998), about 11.2 percent in Germany (11.7 percent in 1998), about 8.6 percent in Italy (9.2 percent in 1998), about 8.0 percent in Spain, about 6.2 percent in South Korea, about 5.4 percent in the U.S.A., about 1.8 percent in Sweden, about 1.6 percent in the Czech Republic, about 1.5 percent in the United Kingdom, about 1.5 percent in Taiwan, about 1.2 percent in Belgium, about 1.0 percent in the Netherlands and only about 0.3 percent in Israel.

The rate of motorization rose from 277 vehicles per 1,000 residents at the end of 1998 to 279 at the end of 1999, thereof - 212 private cars.

The rate of motorization in municipalities was 297, thereof - 228 private cars. The highest rate of motorization was found in the following municipalities: in Tel Aviv-Yafo - 615 thereof 409 private cars, in Herzeliyya - 465 thereof 374 private cars, in Ramat Gan - 427, thereof 311 private cars, in Giv'atayim - 411 thereof 328 private cars, in Ra'anana - 394 thereof 325 private cars, in Qiryat Ono - 387 thereof 317 private cars, in Petah Tiqwa - 386 thereof 297 private cars, in Hod Hasharon - 377 thereof 299 private cars and in Yehud - 367 thereof 283 private cars. The rate of motorization in Haifa was 329 thereof 266 private cars and in Jerusalem (including East Jerusalem) - 213 thereof 168 private cars.

Compared with developed countries throughout the world, the rate of motorization in Israel is relatively low, as yet. In 1998, the rate of motorization was 277 per 1,000 residents compared to 787 in the U.S.A., 697 in Canada, 676 in Japan, 673 in Switzerland, 653 in Italy, 649 in Austria, 603 in France, 596 in Germany and 549 in Norway.

The data in this publication are based on processing of the "Vehicle Index" of the Licensing Office of the Ministry of Transport. Actually, the data are a copy of the "Vehicle Index" at the end of the year; therefore, the quality of the processing of the data depends on the quality and level of updating of the "Vehicle Index".

Motor vehicles: included are all types of motor vehicles which are registered at the Licensing Office and whose licenses were valid on 31.12.99 or expired in 1999. The number of motor vehicles does not include army and police vehicles, towed vehicles, tractors, vehicles of foreign citizens and of holders of provisional licenses, vehicles registered in Judea and Samaria and the Gaza Area, vehicles of tourists staying in Israel less than 3 months, diplomatic and U.N. vehicles and the like.

Motor vehicle: any kind of mechanically propelled vehicle, including motorcycles, but excluding vehicles towed by a motor vehicle.

A truck (transport vehicle and commercial vehicle): a vehicle used or intended for use in transporting freight, whether for payment or in connection with the business of the owner. Since 1978, this type does not include dual purpose vehicles, which were transferred to the private car type. As of 1993, this type does not include "Minibus" (see definition and explanation below). As of 1996, the "Special truck for passengers" was included under "Bus".

Two main sub-types of trucks are distinguished by gross weight:

Hauled vehicle (not a power-driven vehicle):

Gross weight: the weight of the truck plus the weight of the passengers and load carried by it, as permitted by the Licensing Authorities.

Load capacity: load permitted by the Licensing Authorities to be transported by the vehicle.

Minibus: a motor vehicle, up to 4 tons gross weight, designed to transport up to 15 persons in addition to the driver and described in its license as a minibus. Up to 1992, it was included under the type "Truck up to 4 tons" (van).

Bus: a motor vehicle designed to transport 16 or more persons in addition to the driver and described in its license as a bus. As of 1996, the "Special truck for passengers" was included under "Bus", instead of "Truck” (183 Special trucks in 1996).

There are three sub-types of bus or minibus:

Taxi: a public motor vehicle which is not a bus or a minibus, designed to transport up to 10 passengerin addition to the driver and described in its license as a taxi. There were changes in the maximum permitted passengers: up to February 1993, 7 passengers, from March 1993 up to December 1998, 8 passengers and since January 1998, 10 passengers.

Private car: a vehicle which is neither a public service vehicle, nor a commercial vehicle. As from 1978, this type includes dual purpose vehicles.

Special vehicle: a vehicle designed for special services, such as an ambulance, medical car, sanitary vehicle, recovery vehicle, engineering vehicle, crane, etc.

Motorcycle: includes all two and three wheeled motor vehicle, including tricycle and motorcycle with sidecar.

Since 1992, the Licensing Office has ceased classification by type, e.g. scooter, motor scooter and motor cycle and classifies only by engine capacity (in cc). The new classification fits with the driving license regulations which distinguish four principal sub-types:

Rate of motorization: number of vehicles per 1,000 population (permanent residents at the end of the year). The number of motor vehicles refers to the vehicle fleet, classified by the address (locality) of the registered owner of that vehicle. Thus, for example, Tel Aviv-Yafo is assigned a high rate of motorization, since state vehicles and vehicles of other large enterprises are registered there, even though they do not necessarily operate in the Tel Aviv-Yafo area.

Rate of motorization by municipal status and locality (Table 12) - since final detailed data on permanent population at end of 1999 are not yet available, the rate of motorization of each locality was calculated relative to the permanent population at end of 1998, excluding the "Grand total" which was calculated relative to the permanent population at end of 1999.

Additions: vehicles included in the number of motor vehicles (as defined previously) in the year of processing and which were not included in the previous year.

Subtractions: vehicles included in the number of motor vehicles in the previous year and which are not included in the year of the processing.

Vehicles supplied to the local market: The definition "vehicles supplied to the local market", presented in the Transport Statistics Quarterly and in the Monthly Bulletin of Statistics, slightly differs from the definition of "private car" presented in Motor Vehicles. Therefore, when comparing between the data, the different definitions should be noted:

1. Motor Vehicles, by Type of Vehicle 1998

2. Motor Vehicles, by Type of Vehicle 1968- 1998

3. Motor Vehicles, by Country of Production 1998

4. Private Cars by Engine Capacity (cc) 1998

5. Rate of Motorization of Private Cars in Israel and in Selected Countries-1986 and 1996