Lower Vehicle Ownership in Manresa
Manresa had 54,356 registered motor vehicles in 2024, equating to 632.15 vehicles per 1,000 residents, according to the Spanish Directorate General for Traffic (DGT) database. This motorisation rate is notably lower than in comparable cities: Vic recorded 663 vehicles per 1,000 residents and Igualada 705. The figures are part of the technical report underpinning Manresa’s Low Emission Zone (ZBE) project, published by the Ajuntament de Manresa on its official website.
Fall in Revenue from Vehicle Tax
The technical report notes that revenue from the mechanical traction vehicle tax (IVTM) has shown a declining trend, linked to fewer new vehicle registrations and growing use of alternative urban mobility options. These include motorcycles and personal mobility vehicles such as e-scooters. A further factor is the renewal of the vehicle fleet towards cleaner models. Since recent years, Manresa’s IVTM ordinance has offered a 50% tax reduction for vehicles with the ECO environmental label, including plug-in hybrids (PHEV), non-plug-in hybrids (HEV), and those powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Fully electric vehicles receive a 75% reduction. Despite this shift, nearly 99% of vehicles in Manresa still run on petrol or diesel, with electric vehicles remaining a small minority, according to the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan.
ZBE Implementation Phased Until 2028
Manresa’s ZBE was definitively approved by the municipal council on 18 December 2025. However, it will not be permanently enforced until 2028. Currently, access restrictions apply only during episodes of high pollution, which are rare in the city. Manresa consistently records nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) levels well below the regulatory threshold of 40 micrograms per cubic metre, having never exceeded it in the past 15 years. Under current rules, all residents’ vehicles can enter the zone regardless of emissions label. Non-residents without an environmental label may also enter, as full enforcement is not yet active. The initial phase covers just 0.21 km², 0.5% of the city’s total area, within the historic walled centre, where 4,970 residents live. This represents 9.8% of the city’s residential surface area, below the 25% minimum required by Generalitat decree, but permitted in phases.
Monitoring System Based on Number Plate Recognition
The control system will rely on three camera-equipped monitoring points installed within the ZBE. These will use artificial vision algorithms to read number plates and determine whether vehicles have an environmental label or authorisation. The cameras will also support video surveillance functions and allow enforcement actions for unauthorised entries into restricted pedestrian areas. Data collected will help assess the impact of measures aimed at reducing pollution and inform future planning.
Possible Expansion After 2030
The municipality has outlined a potential second phase from 2030, which could extend the ZBE to include Passeig Pere III and Carrer Guimerà in the city centre. Final decisions on expansion will depend on evaluation of the first phase’s outcomes.
Primary sources: Departament d'Interior i Seguretat Pública, dsp.interior.gencat.cat, sede-org.dgt.gob.es. Reported by eb.manresa.cat, carecitylab.cat, Regió 7.
