The number of registered motor vehicles shows continued and sustained growth over time. Over five-years, from 2020 to 2024, registered motor vehicles increased by 13%. While the number of electric and hybrid vehicles registered in Queensland has risen significantly in the last five years, particularly passenger vehicles, they only represent 4% of all vehicles. In 2023, the first hydrogen car was registered, with four cars registered by 2024.

Our growing population drives continued and sustained growth of registered motor vehicles.

The amount of travel directly affects emissions from motor vehicles, i.e. when there are more vehicles, emissions increase too. This effect is particularly the case when there are more heavy vehicles (trucks, buses) as they have higher emissions compared to light vehicles. On the other hand, new emission reduction technology likely offsets or reverses these trends for specific air pollutants but not for greenhouse gases.

Cars comprise about 65% of all registered vehicles, followed by light commercial vehicles at 23%.

During 2020-2024, the number of all vehicle types increased. The most significant increase is in campervans/motorhomes and motorised wheelchairs which both increased by 28%.

Registered hybrid electric (petrol/electric or diesel/electric) cars increased by 270% in Queensland over the past five years. The number of electric vehicles registered in Queensland has also increased (118%), most notably for cars up 99% since 2020.

Electric or hybrid vehicles still represent less than 4% of all cars and light commercial vehicles.

This data was extracted from the Department of Transport & Main Roads Transport Registration and Integrated Licensing System (TRAILS). While every care is taken to ensure the data quality, it is important to understand that this information is subject to change due to data cleansing and is therefore suitable for mass data analysis only (e.g. monitoring emerging trends over time).