Norway’s trailblazing EV market continues to impress
18 June 2025
With one of the greatest battery-electric vehicle (BEV) adoption rates in Europe, Norway continues to punch above its weight. Tom Hooker, Autovista24 journalist, explores how the country has achieved this success.
By volume, Norway has the ninth-largest electric vehicle (EV) market in central and western Europe, according to EV Volumes. From January to April, a total of 41,316 BEVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) were delivered in the country. This represents a year-on-year increase of 34.4%.
Broken down, BEVs accounted for almost all of these registrations, with a 96.3% share of plug-in volumes. The technology enjoyed a 32.2% improvement over the first four months of 2025, reaching 39,798 units.
PHEVs saw deliveries soar compared to the same period in 2024, up 139.4%. However, this was calculated from significantly smaller volumes, with 1,518 new models registered in the first four months of 2025. The powertrain made up just 3.7% of the country’s EV market.
Norway outshines peers
In its most recent forecast, EV Volumes expects Norway’s plug-in share to reach 97.9% by the end of 2025. This would be up from 91.7% at the end of 2024, with BEVs alone accounting for 89% of all deliveries.
This was some way ahead of fellow Scandinavian markets, such as Sweden and Denmark. These two countries managed EV shares of 58.4% and 54.9% respectively in 2024. Neither Denmark nor Sweden is expected to reach a share of over 90% until 2031, according to EV Volumes forecasts.
The progress of Norway’s electrification is highlighted when compared to Europe’s ‘big five’. The UK recorded the greatest EV share of these countries last year at 28.1%. It is not forecast to meet Norway’s 2024 plug-in share performance until 2032.
Exponential EV share growth
So, how is Norway so far ahead of other European countries? In 2015, EVs claimed 22.2% of the country’s new-car market. By 2018, plug-ins accounted for just under half of all deliveries. In 2020, EVs accounted for nearly three-quarters of overall volumes.
Since 2021, plug-ins have recorded smaller share gains. However, PHEV’s market hold has dropped dramatically, falling from 21.6% in 2021 to 2.7% in 2024. This means BEVs have had to do the heavy lifting, rising from a 64.5% share in 2021 to last year’s 89%.
Registration fluctuation
Although EVs have been dominant in Norway over the last few years, registration growth has fluctuated. Plug-in volumes surged by 32.9% in 2020, with PHEVs enjoying a 50.8% improvement year on year. Positivity continued into 2021, with a 48.1% BEVs increase and a 32.4% PHEV rise.
By the end of 2025, BEVs are expected to represent 96.7% of all registrations, while PHEVs drop to 1.2%. In 2026, the market share of both diesel and petrol-powered cars is forecast to be wiped out. Then, in 2027, BEVs are predicted to take full control of Norway’s new-car market.
Yet, growth nearly halted in 2022, as EVs could only manage a 1.7% increase. This was largely due to a 57.8% drop in PHEV deliveries. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation worsened in 2023. Both BEVs and PHEVs endured double-digit registration declines, causing the plug-in market to fall by 25.7%.
This lack of growth in 2022 and 2023 may have been due to the supply-chain crisis. The supply of semiconductors was impacted by increased demand, leaving EVs struggling. In a market reliant on electric powertrains, any issue with semiconductor supplies is likely amplified.
The technology bounced back to record marginal growth in 2024. This was solely driven by BEVs, which saw a 9.5% growth in volumes. Conversely, PHEV deliveries fell by 65.7%, although this was based on smaller figures.
Norway’s tax Incentive boost
Incentives and regulations are helping Norway achieve a high BEV adoption rate. Despite the absence of national purchase subsidies for plug-ins, various tax incentives are currently available, according to the European Alternative Fuels Observatory (EAFO).
This includes exemptions from the CO₂ and NOx components of the registration tax. Moreover, BEV owners do not have to pay recurring fees such as the annual circulation tax.
BEVs also benefit from a 20% reduction in company car tax. In addition, owners do not have to pay for Norway’s 25% vehicle VAT, so long as the price is below 500,000kr (€43,643). This exemption applies to new and used BEVs not been previously registered in Norway.
For models above 500,000kr, a standard VAT rate applies to the excess amount. The same exemption applies to leasing agreements. The relief measure is planned to continue at least through 2026.
Additional benefits include a cap on toll road fees, with BEVs charged no more than 70% of the cost applicable to internal-combustion engine vehicles. Residents in apartment buildings are also entitled to ask for the installation of a personal EV charging point. This is thanks to the charging right law, which has been in effect since 2017.
However, BEVs are no longer exempt from road traffic insurance tax as of 2025. Drivers must pay 3,270kr every year. Interestingly, this is higher than the annual payment of 2,329kr paid by a typical petrol vehicle, according to the EAFO.
Expanding infrastructure in Norway
Another important factor in Norway’s fast-growing BEV market is expanding infrastructure. As of May 2025, there were a total of 34,091 charging points located in the country, as published by the EAFO. This is split into 23,625 AC chargers and 10,466 DC chargers.
Norway’s infrastructure has also been given a boost from incentives. This includes legislation that new parking lots must dedicate at least 6% of spaces to EVs. Major roads also have charging stations available every 50km.
Tesla leads Norway
The Tesla Model Y was Norway’s best-selling BEV and EV during the first four months of the year, with 3,651 registrations. This gave the crossover a 9.2% share of total BEV volumes. It will be hoping to repeat its 2024 performance when it finished at the top of the best-sellers table.
Securing second was the Toyota bZ4X with a 7.3% market share, thanks to 2,902 units. The SUV is a popular model in Norway, as it finished fifth in last year’s standings. Third went to the Volkswagen (VW) ID.4, reaching 2,557 deliveries and a 6.4% share. The BEV landed in fourth in 2024.
Fourth was the Nissan Ariya, posting a 5.3% hold with 2,128 units. VW claimed the next three spots, with the ID.7 recording 2,061 registrations and a 5.2% share, while the ID.3 made up 4.5% of the market with 1,792 units. Then came the ID.Buzz People, which reached 1,412 deliveries and a 3.5% share.
This was followed by the Skoda Enyaq, which translated a 1,252-unit total into a 3.1% hold. Last year’s third-place finisher sat in ninth, with 1,169 registrations and accounting for 2.9% of overall volumes. Rounding out the top 10 was 2024’s runner-up, the Tesla Model Y. It posted 1,126 units and represented 2.8% of the BEV market.
Volvo takes top two
Volvo secured the top two places in the PHEV best-sellers table with the XC90 and XC60. The former recorded 365 units and a 24% share, while the XC60 captured 20% of the PHEV market with 303 deliveries.
The Mitsubishi Outlander followed with 254 units and a 16.7% hold. MG’s eHS appeared in fourth, after entering the market in October 2024. The SUV took a 10.6% share with 161 units. Then came last year’s best-selling PHEV, the Toyota RAV4, with 143 registrations and a 9.4% hold.
The Ford Kuga claimed sixth thanks to 41 deliveries, translating into a 2.7% share. Behind, the Volvo V60 represented 2% of the overall total with 31 units moved. The BMW 5-Series landed eighth, posting 27 registrations and making up 1.8% of the market.
The BMW X5 followed with 23 deliveries and a 1.5% hold. Rounding out the top 10 was the Voyah Free, the only extended-range EV in the table. It recorded 22 units and a 1.4% hold.
