Dutch car fleet older, heavier and less colourful

On 1 January 2005 the Netherlands totalled nearly 7 million passenger cars, approximately two million more than in 1990. The average age of privately-owned cars has risen from 6 to 8 years over the last fourteen years. The average weight of cars has increased by 200 kilograms over the same period.

Share of new-car owners in the population, by age of the owner

Fewer new cars bought by young people

Early 2005 private persons altogether owned 267 thousand new cars, a decline by almost a quarter compared to four years ago, when 348 thousand new cars were privately owned. The decrease is relatively strong in the 20 - 35 age bracket. New cars are more frequently owned by older persons, one third of new-car owners are over 60, whereas four years ago only 20 percent.

Average weight passenger cars

Heavier and frequently grey

As from 1990 the average weight of passenger cars increased by 22 percent. On average, 1990 vintage cars weighed 935 kg, as against 1,135 kg in 2004. Nearly 64 percent of cars built in 2004 are grey or black, in 1990 only one third.

Colour varieties passenger cars by year of construction

Older people opt for grey, younger people prefer black

Cars dating back to the 1970s were predominantly brown, yellow, orange and white. In the 1990s green, blue and red were popular colours. More than half of all cars built in 2000 and later years are grey and black. In every hundred cars manufactured last year, 44 are grey, 20 blue and 19 black. Older people prefer grey, young people often opt for black.   

Share of black and grey-coloured cars (year of construction 2004)

Astrid Dohmen and Michèl Pluijmen