- Norway’s electric vehicle registrations exceeded 10,000 in May, led by the Tesla Model Y.
- Electric cars accounted for 80.7% of all new car registrations, showcasing Norway’s strong EV market.
- Plug-in hybrid registrations continue to decline, highlighting the clear shift towards all-electric vehicles.
Norway witnessed a rise in new electric vehicle (EV) uptake, surpassing 10,000 registrations in May
Although there was a slight decline in April, the numbers rebounded significantly last month. The clear leader in the Norwegian market was the Tesla Model Y, capturing the top spot among all-electric car models.
Compared to April’s 7,471 registrations, May’s figure of 10,773 reflects an undeniably positive trend. However, it falls short of the remarkable 16,800 registrations in March, which marked the end of the first quarter. Nonetheless, when compared to May of the previous year, there is a notable increase. The 8,445 electric cars registered in May 2022 stand in contrast to the 10,773 registered this year, resulting in an additional 2,328 units.
In terms of the overall car market in Norway, there were 13,342 new car registrations in May, as reported by the Road Information Agency. This figure represents a 15.4% increase, with 1,805 more vehicles registered compared to the same month last year. The growth of electric cars has outpaced the general market, with a remarkable rise of 2,328 units year-on-year.
The dominance of EVs in Norway is evident, as they accounted for a significant 80.7% of all new car registrations in May. This proportion demonstrates a substantial increase from the 73.2% recorded in May 2022. However, it is worth mentioning that EV market share was even higher in March 2023, reaching an impressive 86.8%.
Notably, the registration numbers for plug-in hybrids continue to decline in Norway. While May 2021 saw 3,221 new registrations, the figures dropped to 1,375 units in May 2022, and further decreased to 703 new registrations this year. Despite the decline, plug-in hybrids still maintain a 5.3% market share.
Other fuel types, such as full hybrids (3.0%), petrol cars (1.2%), and diesel vehicles (2.1%), have even smaller market shares. It is important to note that the data does not distinguish fuel cell cars separately. The trend, however, is clear, all-electric cars are the way forward.
Examining specific models, the Tesla Model Y clearly emerged as the favourite among Norwegian buyers, with 2,691 new registrations in May. Following closely behind are the VW ID.4 (738) and the BMW iX1 (594). Other notable models include the Toyota RAV4 hybrid (580), the Volvo XC40 (539), the Skoda Enyaq (387), and the Audi Qa e-tron (386). Additionally, the VW ID. Buzz recorded 308 new registrations as a passenger car and an additional 174 registrations as a light commercial vehicle, totaling 482 registrations overall.
The success of Norway’s EV adoption is largely due to the amount of government support and incentives offered to EV drivers. These include exemptions from purchase taxes, reduced road taxes, toll road benefits, and access to bus lanes.
EV owners also enjoy perks like free or discounted parking, charging infrastructure subsidies, and reduced ferry fares. With a supportive charging network and a strong commitment to sustainability, Norway has created an attractive environment for EVs, making them a popular choice for drivers and accelerating the country’s decarbonisation goals.
The strength of Norway’s comparatively mature EV market is incredibly encouraging. It also spotlights the Norwegian public’s receptiveness to emobility. The decline of plug-in hybrids and other fuel types clearly signals that, as far as Norway is concerned, the future is electric. As has so often been the case in the world of emobility, the rest of the world should look to Scandinavia, and do everything in their power to emulate Norway’s success.
