Norway has shattered global records for electric car sales, with EVs capturing a staggering 94.3% market share in August. This remarkable achievement, announced by the Norwegian Road Federation (OFV), marks a new high watermark for electric vehicle adoption worldwide. The surge in sales can be attributed to the popularity of models like the Tesla Model Y, which accounted for 18.8% of sales, as well as the Hyundai Kona and Nissan Leaf. A total of 10,480 new EVs were registered in August, bringing the year-to-date total to 68,435.
In contrast, electric car sales across the rest of Europe have stagnated, hindered by high prices and insufficient infrastructure. Hybrid models, which combine fossil fuel engines with electric batteries, have seen increased sales in Europe. However, Norway has bucked this trend with its ambitious target of achieving 100% zero-emission vehicle sales by 2025, a decade ahead of the EU’s goal.
The country’s commitment to sustainable transportation is evident in its generous tax benefits, which make electric vehicles competitively priced. “No country in the world comes close to Norway in the electric car race,” remarked OFV director Oyvind Solberg Thorsen. “If this trend continues, we will soon be on our way to achieving our goal of 100 per cent zero-emission cars by 2025,” he added.
In July, electric vehicles represented only 12.1% of new car sales in the EU, lagging behind petrol cars (33.4%), full hybrids (32%), and diesel cars (12.6%), according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association. Norway’s success story serves as a testament to the power of proactive government policies and a strong public appetite for sustainable transportation solutions.
