The Statistical Service announces that it has issued the report entitled "Registration of Motor Vehicles" for the period January-March 2003.

2. The main developments in the first three months of 2003 compared to the same period of 2002, were:

(a) The total registrations of motor vehicles during the first three months of 2003 decreased by 2,3% to 10.265 from 10.503 vehicles in the same period of 2002.

(b) Private saloon cars increased to 7.735 from 6.510 in January-March 2002, i.e. there was an increase of 18,8%. Of the total private saloon cars 2.517 vehicles or 32,5% were new and 5.218 vehicles or 67,5% were used vehicles.

(c) Goods conveyance vehicles decreased by 41,6% to 1.290 from last year’s 2.209 vehicles. Light goods vehicles decreased by 47,2% to 1.053, while heavy goods vehicles increased by 9,7% to 237 in January-March 2003.

(d) Mechanised cycles decreased by 17,8% and totalled 620 compared to 754 in January-March 2001.