4.6 pc rise in new private vehicles

Muscat, Jan 26 - The year 2018 has been among the best in recent years in terms of the number of new private vehicles registered in the Sultanate.
A total of 1,157,440 new private vehicles had been registered as of December 2018, a 4.6 per cent increase on a year-to-year basis from 2017, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).
The figure was 1,106,728 in 2017, 70,706 in 2016 and 74,113 in 2015.
The Royal Oman Police (ROP) decision to allow men to take driving test on automatic vehicles will add to an increase in the number of vehicle buyers, according to sources in the automobile sector.
“With many male expatriates expected to clear driving test with ease under the new rule, they will be looking out for new/used vehicles,” said a top executive of one of the largest selling car brands in the country.
According to a senior official of a vehicle insurance firm, “The market confidence improved in 2018, but the private sector employees are still grappling with the problem of salary delays. Unless normalcy is restored on that front, vehicle market will still be a challenge.”
She added, “Used vehicles market pose a serious threat to those selling new ones. Loans are easily available and cars less than five years old come under warranty and are maintenance free.”
Increase in the number of international tourists because of the opening up of more hotels has come as a boost to the rental car market. The ease of obtaining tourist visas has helped too. The number of vehicles registered for rental purposes has also seen an increase.
A total of 23,363 new rental vehicles were registered in 2018, a four per cent increase from the previous year. The figure was 22,456 in 2017. A total of 3,972 rental vehicles were registered in 2016 and 4,886 in 2015.