TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's vehicle registrations have surpassed its population, reaching 23,357,381 by the end of May, according to the Highway Bureau (公路局) data. This milestone highlights the island's growing transportation challenges as authorities grapple with the dominance of private vehicles, which now account for 72% of the market share.
The situation is particularly pronounced in rural areas, with private vehicle usage approaching 90% in Pingtung County and Changhua County. These high rates contribute to increasing pollution, traffic congestion and accident rates across the island. Professor Qiu Yujun (邱裕鈞) from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (陽明交通大學) suggests that increasing the difficulty and cost of private vehicle use might be effective.
Singapore's Certificate of Entitlement policy and London's congestion charge are potential models that Taiwan could consider. Taiwan's Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC, 交通部) reports that commuting represented 44.9% of travel purposes in 2024. Despite this significant commuter population, public transport usage in 17 counties falls below 10%, with only Taipei, Keelung, and New Taipei showing higher utilization rates.
Taiwan's infrastructure and policies have long favored private vehicle ownership. Relatively cheap fuel costs and the prevalence of free parking spaces, including those offered by employers, have created little incentive for commuters to switch to public options. The government should consider measures such as implementing timed parking fees for scooters as part of a broader strategy to curb private vehicle reliance, according to transportation experts. This approach could address the current imbalance in transportation modes.
In response to these challenges, the Executive Yuan (行政院) launched the TPASS monthly commuter pass in 2023. The program allows unlimited travel across four cities for NT$1,200 monthly, costing the government approximately NT$8 billion to NT$9 billion annually. Early results show promise in some regions. Taoyuan City has seen a 3.8% increase in public transport usage since the program's implementation — the highest nationwide — coupled with a 4.7% decrease in private vehicle use.
Transportation experts suggest that while the TPASS program is a step in the right direction, more comprehensive measures are needed. Implementing timed parking fees for scooters, which currently enjoy free parking in most areas, could be one approach to reduce private vehicle dependency. As Taiwan's vehicle count continues to grow beyond its population numbers, policymakers face increasing pressure to develop solutions that address both immediate congestion issues and long-term environmental concerns.