The total number of motor vehicles registrations in Cyprus during 2008 increased by 5.2%, but they registered a sharp decline in December, according to the Statistical Service of Cyprus. 

According to a report issued by the Service entitled ''Registration of Motor Vehicles'' for the period January - December 2008, the total number of motor vehicles registered in 2008 was 67.722 in comparison with 64.405 in 2007 for a 5.2% gain. 

Out of these, 34.895 were new and 32.827 were used vehicles.

The report indicates that the private saloon cars increased by 2.0% in 2008, to 49.100 from 48.133 in 2007, whereas used private saloon cars registered in 2008, reached 26.859 or 54.7% of total saloon car registrations, while new private saloon car registrations were 22.241 or 45.3% of the total.

At the same time, self-drive car registrations decreased by 12.1% to 2.216 in 2008, compared to 2.520 in 2007.

With regards to goods conveyance vehicles, the report of the Statistical Service notes that they increased by 21.4% to 8.680 in 2008, compared to 7.149 in 2007.

As it concerns mechanised cycles registrations, those increased by 13.4% to 6.190 in 2008, from 5.457 in 2007.

According to the report, EU countries were the main suppliers of motor vehicles to Cyprus in 2008 as EU accounted for 56.9% of total vehicle registrations, while Japan’s share fell to 30.0%.

In December, the number of registrations were 3938, down 10% month-month from November.