British News Agency

According to the Norwegian Transport Information Council (OFV), electric cars accounted for 95.8% of new car registrations last month. When hybrid vehicles are included, this figure rises to 96.8%. Out of the 9,343 cars sold in January, 8,954 were electric.

Despite being a major oil and gas producer, Norway aims for all new cars sold from 2025 onward to be electric, putting it ten years ahead of the European Union’s target, which Norway is not a member of.

For comparison, according to ACEA, the automotive manufacturers’ representative, the share of electric cars in Europe in 2024 was just 13.6%, marking the first decline since 2020.

OFV CEO Oyvind Solberg Thorsen stated that they had never seen such figures before and that if sales continue at this pace, the 2025 targets will be achieved.

Thorsen added, "However, if we are to reach our goal, we must maintain the incentive system to ensure that choosing an electric car remains more profitable than other types of vehicles."

Only two of the 50 best-selling models were not electric, with the first non-electric model ranking 33rd.

In Norway, electric cars benefit from various tax reductions, making them far more attractive to purchase than diesel and petrol cars. Additionally, electric car owners enjoy exemptions from toll fees, free parking, and permission to use public transport lanes.

Unlike Brussels’ plans, Oslo has not banned the sale of diesel and petrol vehicles but instead opted to provide generous tax incentives to make electric vehicles more competitive.