The choice of new private and benefit cars vs. climate and transportation policy in Sweden

•Discrete random choice models were estimated based on actual new-car purchases (2014).•Results indicated that the benefit car market was the main gateway for AFVs into the Swedish fleet.•However, GHG emissions per km per car sold were similar for private and benefit cars.•Particularly important characteristics of benefit cars were size and weight.•It seems policies had not been very effective in shifting choices in favor of AFVs.