Norway set a new record in 2022, with over four out of every five vehicles sold being electric. According to the most recent registration date, Norway is well on its way to becoming the first country to phase out gas-powered car sales by 2025.
Norway pledged in 2016 to have all new cars sold by 2025 be zero-emission, establishing itself as a global leader in the new electric vehicle era.
EV sales share increased from 2.9 percent a decade ago to 65 percent in 2021. Norway achieved 79.3 percent in 2022, demonstrating the tremendous changes in the auto industry.
“Eight out of ten people choosing fully electric instead of combustion engines is a considerable step towards Norway reaching its climate goal of 100 percent BEV sales in 2025. This proves beyond doubt that affordable BEVs are the number one choice for new car owners,” said Christina Bu, secretary general of the Norwegian EV Association.
With the remarkable progress made in recent years, Norway believes it will have a 100 percent EV market share by 2025.
According to Bu, electric vehicles are the most popular choice in cities and rural areas. “Our message to the rest of the world is crystal clear: Now there is no excuse for the internal combustion engines’ (ICE) unnecessary pollution when the climate crisis is so urgent to solve,” he added.
According to the Norwegian Road Federation, the Tesla Model Y was the most popular electric car sold in 2022, followed by the Volkswagen ID.4. Tesla Model Y: 17,356, Volkswagen ID.4, Skoda Enyaq, BMW iX, Volvo XC40, Hyundai IONI 5, Audi Q4 e-Tron, Audi e-Tron, Polestar 2, Ford Mustang Mach-E are among the top EVs sold in Norway over the last year.
For more than a decade, Norway has exceeded electric car sales goals, and the government has developed significant incentives for EV adoption, such as free tolls, parking, and tax breaks to boost zero-emission sales.
In addition, the country built a large charging network, with over 5,600 fast chargers covering 1,700 kilometers from the Arctic Circle to the southern tip of Norway.
While automakers worldwide are taking the zero emissions initiative, the change is driven by the consumer. This is because people prefer electric vehicles, and they have become more accessible.