Norway's car market is showing signs of a strong recovery after two years of lower-than-usual sales. In January 2025, 9,343 new passenger cars were registered, representing an 82% increase compared to January 2024. This suggests that the market may be stabilizing after a period of economic uncertainty.
Electric Vehicles Dominate with 96% Share
Electric vehicles (EVs) accounted for 95.8% of all new passenger car registrations in January, marking an increase from 92.1% in the same period last year. A total of 8,954 EVs were registered, reinforcing Norway’s position as a global leader in e-mobility.
Despite this strong performance, industry experts caution against assuming that Norway’s 100% EV target for 2025 has already been achieved. “We are moving in the right direction, but reaching 100% will still be challenging,” said Øyvind Solberg Thorsen, Director of the Norwegian Road Federation (OFV). “There is still a small share of consumers choosing internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, and maintaining incentives for EVs remains crucial.”
Fuel Type Distribution in January 2025
| Fuel Type | Registrations (2025) | Market Share (2025) | Registrations (2024) | Market Share (2024) |
| Electricity | 8,954 | 95.8% | 4,717 | 92.1% |
| Diesel | 137 | 1.5% | 103 | 2.0% |
| Petrol Hybrid | 124 | 1.3% | 164 | 3.2% |
| Petrol Plugin Hybrid | 94 | 1.0% | 93 | 1.8% |
| Petrol | 33 | 0.4% | 44 | 0.9% |
| Diesel Plugin Hybrid | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | 0.0% |
| Total | 9,343 | 100% | 5,122 | 100% |
With EVs dominating nearly all segments, the shift towards full electrification appears inevitable. However, policymakers are urged to maintain supportive measures to ensure that the remaining fossil fuel-powered vehicles are gradually phased out.
Most Popular EV Models in January 2025
The Toyota bZ4X led the market with 1,188 registrations, capturing a 12.7% share. Volkswagen secured three positions in the top five, with the ID.4, ID.3, and ID.7 models continuing to perform well. Meanwhile, Tesla Model Y, a previous leader, fell to the sixth position.
| Rank | Model | Registrations | Market Share |
| 1 | Toyota bZ4X | 1,188 | 12.7% |
| 2 | Volkswagen ID.4 | 830 | 8.9% |
| 3 | Nissan Ariya | 544 | 5.8% |
| 4 | Volkswagen ID.3 | 537 | 5.7% |
| 5 | Volkswagen ID.7 | 490 | 5.2% |
| 6 | Tesla Model Y | 361 | 3.9% |
| 7 | Tesla Model 3 | 324 | 3.5% |
| 8 | Skoda Enyaq | 271 | 2.9% |
| 9 | BMW i4 | 243 | 2.6% |
| 10 | Ford Explorer EV | 221 | 2.4% |
Volkswagen remained the best-selling brand overall, accounting for 20.3% of the market, followed by Toyota and Tesla.
Best-Selling EV Brands in January 2025
| Rank | Brand | Registrations | Market Share |
| 1 | Volkswagen | 1,899 | 20.3% |
| 2 | Toyota | 1,354 | 14.5% |
| 3 | Tesla | 689 | 7.4% |
| 4 | BMW | 631 | 6.8% |
| 5 | Nissan | 554 | 5.9% |
| 6 | Volvo | 488 | 5.2% |
| 7 | Mercedes-Benz | 471 | 5.0% |
| 8 | Audi | 415 | 4.4% |
| 9 | Ford | 347 | 3.7% |
| 10 | Skoda | 294 | 3.1% |
Light Commercial Vehicles and Buses Also See Growth
The light commercial vehicle segment also saw an increase of 22% compared to January 2024. A total of 1,703 vans were registered, of which 753 were electric, representing 44% of the segment. The share of diesel vans remained high at 54%, highlighting the need for stronger incentives for commercial EV adoption.
Public transport electrification also saw a positive trend, with a 222% increase in electric bus registrations compared to the previous year. Of the 187 new buses registered, 68% were electric, indicating a continued shift toward zero-emission public transport solutions.
Outlook for 2025
The strong start to 2025 suggests a potential return to normalcy for Norway’s car market. If trends continue, the 100% EV goal by the end of 2025 remains within reach. However, industry experts stress that maintaining tax incentives and infrastructure investments will be crucial for ensuring a smooth transition.
“The growth in EV sales is promising, but achieving full electrification requires continued political commitment,” says Solberg Thorsen. “We need to ensure that the remaining internal combustion vehicle sales transition to electric as soon as possible.”
As new models enter the market and economic conditions improve, the demand for electric vehicles is expected to remain strong. If Norway can sustain this momentum, it will continue to serve as a benchmark for EV adoption worldwide.
Source
Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.
