Source: Worldwatch Institute and BTS.

Vehicle Use Indicators, World, 1950-2004

Since the 1950s, the number of automobiles has considerably increased, especially in developed countries. This process of motorization involved a significant reduction in the number of people per automobile, from 48.2 in 1950 to 10.6 in 2004. There are consequently more vehicles per capita, which is a good indicator of potential mobility. In 2004, the global automobile fleet was estimated to be around 603 million vehicles, with an annual car production in the range of 40 million cars. There are more registered vehicles in the United States than there are licensed drivers. Along with the number of vehicles and their production, the distance traveled per vehicle is also on the rise. In the United States, each passenger vehicle travels around 12,500 miles (20,000 km) annually (2004 figures), up from about 9,000 miles (14,400 km) in 1980. This growing mobility reflects ongoing spatial changes in terms of the size and density of urban areas.

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