Some motoring journalists and the Seven Network would have us believe that Australians have a “love affair” with cars, especially big, fast, throaty V8s, such as the V8 Supercars and the Bathurst 1,000.

Well, sorry to disabuse you of that notion (if you believed in it), the reality is that Australians are rapidly embracing motorbikes (especially scooters) and diesel-powered cars. Both are changing the shape of car ownership and car sales, according to the latest Motor Vehicle Census from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The ABS says that over the five years from March 2004 and March this year, the Australian passenger vehicle fleet grew 13.1%, from 10.6 million to 12.0 million.

“Motor cycles and articulated trucks were the vehicle types showing the largest growth over this time with increases of 57.5% and 22.5% respectively. Light commercial vehicles rose by 21.4%, buses rose by 18.4% and rigid trucks by 17.9%. Non-freight carrying trucks and passenger vehicles had the smallest growth over the same period, with increases of 13.2% and 13.1% respectively.

Motorcycle popularity in Australia continued to grow at a faster rate than any other vehicle type in the twelve months to March 2009, with registrations up by 10.0%. Motorcycle (including scooter) registrations have increased by 57.5% over the five years to 2009, according to the ABS. “This popularity saw motorcycles earn a 4.0% fleet share of all vehicles registered in Australia, rising from 2.9% in 2004. This compares with passenger vehicles, which have dropped from a 78.5% fleet share in 2004 to 76.7% in 2009.

“Increases in motorcycle registrations over this five year period have been observed in all states and territories, with Western Australia recording the largest percentage increase (75.9%), followed by the Northern Territory (70.2%). The smallest percentage increase was in Victoria where registrations of motorcycles at 31 March 2009 were 44.1% above those recorded 5 years earlier.

All up the Motor Vehicle Census shows a total of 15.7 million vehicles were registered in Australia in 2009, or 72 vehicles for every 100 Australian residents. Over the 12 months to March this year, the total number of vehicle registrations rose by 2.5% (it was heavily influenced by the economic slowdown, and the rise in fuel costs during the year, plus the financial crisis).

The ABS said that over the year to March, total diesel registered vehicles in Australia rose by 9.8%. “This continues a five year trend, with the total number of vehicles registered with diesel fuel increasing by 53.1% since 2004. Over the same period, diesel registered passenger vehicles increased by 80.0%, and light commercial vehicles registered with diesel fuel have increased 60.3%.”

“At 31 March 2009, there were 862,392 light commercial vehicles registered with diesel fuel. This is 42.8% of all vehicle registrations in the diesel category. For light commercial vehicles, the number of registrations with diesel fuel at 31 March 2009 was 60.3% higher than at 31 March 2004. Hybrids were lumped in with LPG, dual fuel and ‘other’ vehicles.

The ABS said NSW had the largest share of the Australian fleet at March 31 this year with 4.6 million vehicles or 29.1% of all registered vehicles. Victoria had the second largest share with 4.0 million (25.6%) and Queensland had 3.3 million vehicles (20.9%). The Northern Territory had the smallest share with 0.1 million (0.8%) registered vehicles.

In the five years from March 2004 to March this year, three states experienced growth above the national average of 15.8%.

Registrations in Queensland at March 31, 2009 were 23.6% above those at March 31, 2004, an average annual growth rate of 4.3%. In the same five year period, registrations in Western Australia increased 23.5% (also an average annual growth rate of 4.3%) and Northern Territory registrations rose 21.5%, with an average annual increase of 4.0%. South Australia’s growth in fleet size between 31 March 2004 and 31 March 2009 of 10.3% was the smallest. In this state, the average annual growth was 2.0%, according to the ABS.