Israel’s vehicle fleet reached 4.2 million by the end of 2024, marking a 3% increase over the previous year, according to figures released Tuesday by the Central Bureau of Statistics.
The data, published ahead of Independence Day, show that 396,000 new vehicles were registered last year. At the same time, 277,000 were removed from the roads due to accidents, theft, scrapping and other reasons, resulting in a net gain of 119,000 vehicles.
Israel’s motorization rate—the number of vehicles per 1,000 residents—continues to rise. It now stands at 421 vehicles per 1,000 people, up from 357 a decade ago and 297 in 2004. Still, the figure remains low compared with many developed countries that have efficient public transportation systems. In the United Kingdom, the rate is 603 vehicles per 1,000 people; in Japan, 736; in Spain, 783; and in Italy, 980.
Private cars make up the bulk of the Israeli fleet, totaling 3.67 million. The remainder includes 305,000 trucks, 173,000 motorcycles, 26,000 buses and 22,000 taxis. The average age of a car in Israel is 7.7 years. Most vehicles—89%—are privately owned, while the rest belong to companies.
Electric vehicles accounted for one in four new car sales in 2023, but still represent a small portion of the overall fleet—162,000 vehicles, or 3.8%. Hybrid vehicles number 355,000 (8.5%) and plug-in hybrids total 67,000 (1.5%).
The report also noted that 21% of vehicles in Israel were manufactured in Japan, 15% in South Korea, 8% in the Czech Republic, and 6% each in Turkey, Germany and Spain. Chinese-made vehicles now make up 4% of the market, compared with just 0.5% five years ago. The figures reflect country of manufacture, which may differ from the vehicle brand’s national origin.
About 17% of the vehicles on Israel’s roads—some 714,000—changed ownership in 2023. White remains the most popular color for private cars, comprising 38% of the total fleet, followed by gray (35%), black (13%), blue (7%), brown (4%) and red (2%).
