Number of cars in Schleswig-Holstein reaches new high!

Number of cars in Schleswig-Holstein reaches new high!

In Schleswig-Holstein, the increase in the number of cars is progressing inexorably. Current figures from the Federal Statistical Office show that the car density in this country will be 593 cars per 1,000 inhabitants in 2025. This is not only an increase compared to 2008, where this value was 503, but also a small increase over the German average of 590 vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants. Where does this increase come from? And what does that mean for the mobility of residents?

Loud NDR The highest car densities can be found in the districts of Schleswig-Flensburg and Ostholstein, each with 657 vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants. The Rendsburg-Eckernförde district follows with 650 cars. In contrast, cities such as Kiel (442 cars) and Lübeck (474 ​​cars) have significantly lower vehicle densities. This shows that the increase is particularly pronounced in rural, sparsely populated regions.

The role of e-mobility

Amid this increase, e-mobility is becoming increasingly important. Schleswig-Holstein has already set out to promote electromobility as a central component of future mobility strategies. The state government has decided on initiatives to promote electric cars in order to make growing traffic more environmentally friendly. There are currently around 60,000 electric vehicles registered in the country, an increase of 17.2% last year. With over 750,000 people using local transport every day, modern, low-emission mobility solutions are also being sought here.

Particularly noteworthy is the pilot project “FESH – Field Test eHighway Schleswig-Holstein”, which has set up a test route for overhead line trucks between Reinfeld and Lübeck. These innovative trucks offer a promising solution for freight transport and could help to significantly reduce traffic volumes in the future.

Local transport and commuting behavior

Despite the increase in car density, the use of public transport remains a challenge. Current data shows that only 16% of commuters in Germany use public transport, while 65% prefer to use the car. This makes promoting public transport particularly important, especially in a federal state that is considered a transport hub between Scandinavia and Central Europe. The MiD study, which is currently processing data on everyday traffic behavior, could provide valuable information here. The first results are expected by mid-2025 and could be crucial for transport planning.

Punctuality in local transport is also shown in a positive light with 87.4% of trains running on time in July 2025. However, the question remains as to how politics and society can respond to increasing vehicle ownership and at the same time make public transport attractive. Transport projects such as the Smile24 test project, which introduces on-call bus services, are already showing initial approaches to finding solutions to problems.

In Schleswig-Holstein we live in turbulent times. The increase in car density defies challenges, but also offers opportunities for more environmentally friendly mobility. The course is currently being set - it remains exciting to see which path the region will take.