Oslo — Norway has achieved a new world record in electric vehicle (EV) sales, capturing 94.3% of the market share in August, according to statistics released Monday. This remarkable figure contrasts sharply with stagnating EV sales across the rest of Europe.
The surge in Norway’s EV market was driven largely by the Tesla Model Y, which constituted 18.8% of all new car sales. Additional contributions came from Hyundai’s Kona and Nissan’s Leaf. In total, Norwegians purchased 10,480 new electric vehicles last month, raising the year-to-date total to 68,435.
In comparison, other European countries face challenges in EV adoption due to high prices and inadequate charging infrastructure. As a result, hybrid vehicles, which combine traditional fuel engines with electric batteries, have seen increased popularity.
Norway, a leading oil and gas producer, has set an ambitious goal to transition to 100% zero-emission vehicles by 2025, a decade ahead of the European Union’s target. The country’s generous tax incentives have made electric vehicles more financially accessible, contributing to their dominant market share.
Oyvind Solberg Thorsen, director of the Norwegian Road Federation (OFV), remarked, “No country in the world comes close to Norway in the electric car race. If this trend continues, we are well on our way to reaching our goal of 100% zero-emission vehicles by 2025.”
In contrast, data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association reveals that electric vehicles comprised just 12.1% of new car sales in the EU as of July. This figure lagged behind petrol cars, which accounted for 33.4% of sales, full hybrids at 32%, and diesel vehicles at 12.6%.
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