OSLO: Nearly nine out of ten new cars sold in Norway in 2024 were fully electric, according to registration data released on Thursday. This achievement brings the country closer to its ambitious goal of exclusively selling electric cars by 2025.
Fully electric vehicles (EVs) accounted for 88.9% of new car sales, up from 82.4% in 2023, as reported by the Norwegian Road Federation (OFV). Tesla led the market, followed by Volkswagen and Toyota, while Chinese EVs captured nearly 10% of new car sales.
“Norway is on the verge of erasing petrol and diesel cars from its new car market,” said Christina Bu, head of the Norwegian EV Association.
A Balanced Policy Approach
Norway’s success stems from a long-standing mix of incentives and penalties. The oil-producing nation imposes high taxes on petrol and diesel vehicles while exempting EVs from import and value-added taxes, though some levies were reinstated in 2023.
“This consistent policy, maintained across different governments, is key,” Bu emphasized, contrasting it with the short-term policies of other nations. Norway’s lack of a domestic automaker lobby has also facilitated this transition, making high car taxes politically feasible.
Instead of banning petrol and diesel cars outright, Norway incentivized EV adoption—a strategy experts say prevented public backlash.
EV Adoption Impacts
Electric cars have now surpassed petrol vehicles on Norwegian roads, accounting for over 28% of all vehicles as of December 2024, according to Public Road Administration data.
The rising EV share has spurred rapid infrastructure changes. Fuel stations are replacing petrol pumps with fast chargers, with Circle K, Norway’s largest fuel retailer, planning to match the number of chargers with fuel pumps within three years.
“More than 50% of all cars in Norway will soon be electric,” said Anders Kleve Svela, a senior manager at Circle K.
Drivers have largely embraced EVs despite minor inconveniences, such as longer charging times in winter. “It’s better for the environment, and diesel cars produce so much smell,” said Desire Andresen, a 28-year-old caregiver charging her EV near Oslo.
Norway’s experience highlights the importance of predictable, long-term incentives to drive sustainable change, offering a model for other countries aiming to transition to eco-friendly transportation.
