Norway has recorded its strongest year ever for electric vehicle sales, bringing the country to the brink of eliminating gasoline and diesel cars from its new-car market altogether.
According to data released by the Norwegian Road Traffic Information Council (OFV), electric vehicles accounted for an astonishing 95.9% of all new car registrations last year. The momentum accelerated toward year-end, with EVs making up 98% of all new cars sold in December alone. This marks a significant rise from 88.9% in 2024, underscoring how rapidly the transition is progressing.
In total, 179,550 new passenger cars were registered during the year — a 40% increase compared to the previous year and the highest annual figure ever recorded in Norway, surpassing the earlier record set in 2021.
These numbers reinforce Norway’s reputation as a global leader in sustainable transportation, despite being a major oil-producing nation.
“2025 has been a very special car year,” said OFV Director Geir Inge Stokke. “We are clearly seeing the results of long-term, targeted electric vehicle policies, and how specific tax decisions can have immediate effects on the market.”
Stokke also pointed to a surge in late-year purchases, noting that the upcoming VAT changes set to take effect on January 1, 2026, encouraged many buyers to secure an electric car before the deadline. “The final sprint toward the end of the year has been historically strong,” he added.
Norway’s Deputy Transport Minister Cecilie Knibe Kroglund previously emphasized that the country’s success stems from consistent, long-term incentives for EV adoption rather than outright bans on internal combustion engine vehicles — an approach that has proven highly effective.
Once again, Tesla dominated the Norwegian market, retaining its position as the country’s top-selling car brand for the fifth year in a row. While the U.S. automaker faced challenges in several European markets, Norway remained a bright spot throughout 2025.
Tesla registered 34,285 new passenger vehicles in Norway last year — meaning nearly one in five new cars sold was a Tesla. This represents a 41% increase year-on-year, up from 24,259 vehicles in 2024. The Tesla Model Y led the charge, with 27,621 new registrations nationwide.
“Capturing almost 20% market share in a year with record-high car sales is remarkable in itself,” Stokke said. “Achieving such volumes with so few models says a lot about both demand and Tesla’s influence in the Norwegian market.”
However, on a global level, Tesla reported 418,227 vehicle deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2025, a 16% decline compared to the same period in 2024, when deliveries reached 495,570.
Jan 4, 2026Blagojce Krivevski