Cars on the road in Vantaa, Filand. Photo: Vesa Moilanen / Lehtikuva
- Next Article Orpo rules out Finnish combat role in future Ukraine peacekeeping
The average car in Finland is now 13.6 years old, making the country’s vehicle fleet the oldest in the Nordic region, according to new figures released this week.
In comparison, Sweden’s average is 11 years, Denmark’s is 9.6, and Norway’s stands at 11.1. Industry experts say the trend poses environmental and safety concerns, as older vehicles emit more greenhouse gases and lack modern safety technology.
“The ageing car fleet impacts climate emissions and road safety,” said Jouko Sohlberg, Technical Director at the Finnish Central Organisation for Motor Trades and Repairs, speaking on Yle’s morning programme.
Sohlberg said most cars bought in Finland are used, and that demand for new vehicles has remained sluggish despite recent promotional campaigns. The car industry expects only around 74,000 new passenger cars to be sold this year. To lower the average age of the car fleet, the annual total would need to approach 140,000.
In June, new car registrations rose by 10.1 percent compared to the same month last year, totalling 7,449. But over the first half of 2025, new registrations were still down 4.9 percent year-on-year, showing that the recent uptick has not reversed the longer-term decline.
“Times are tough, but various promotions have helped boost sales,” Sohlberg said.
The long-standing consumer preference for used cars and trusted brands has contributed to the slow renewal rate. Manufacturers like Toyota and Volkswagen continue to dominate the sales rankings in Finland.
Pekka Kaidesoja, editor-in-chief of Auto Bild Suomi, said Finnish buyers are cautious and tend to favour familiar brands.
“Finns trust traditional brands and are somewhat wary of new ones. The most popular brands are reliable and offer a versatile range of models,” Kaidesoja told Yle.
In other Nordic countries, government incentives and a wider shift towards electric vehicles have pushed down the average age of cars. New models are increasingly electric or hybrid, more fuel-efficient, and come equipped with advanced safety systems.
In Finland, electric vehicle sales have grown but remain a small share of total purchases. Older petrol and diesel cars continue to dominate the roads, especially in rural areas, where charging infrastructure is less developed.
Industry groups have warned that without policy changes or increased consumer incentives, the average vehicle age is unlikely to fall in the coming years. Efforts to reduce emissions and meet climate targets could be undermined by a slow vehicle turnover.
HT
- Next Article Orpo rules out Finnish combat role in future Ukraine peacekeeping
Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
