Just seven new petrol-powered cars sold in Norway in January
Data reveals that only seven new petrol cars were sold in Norway last month, a record low for the country that is a leader in electric vehicle adoption. This comes as Norway accelerates its transition away from fossil fuels, with a focus on phasing out internal combustion engines.
The Norwegian Road Traffic Information Council (OFV) reported that in January, only seven petrol cars, 29 hybrids, and 98 diesel cars were registered, while over 2,000 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) were sold. This shift towards electric cars is evident, despite a general slowdown in car sales due to December's rush to avoid January tax increases.
Geir Inge Stokke, the OFV's director, clarifies that the low sales figures are not indicative of a decline in demand but rather a result of a final rush before the new year. He expects registrations to rebound as the market stabilizes.
The dominance of BEVs in Norway's new car sales, accounting for 95.9% last year, is attributed to high carbon taxes, generous subsidies, and the absence of a powerful opposition lobby. Christina Bu, the secretary general of the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association, emphasizes that the 2025 data doesn't signify the end of the journey.
She highlights that two-thirds of drivers still use fossil fuels, and to ensure a widespread shift to electric cars, ambitious goals for 2026 are necessary.
The trend extends to the used car market, with a 22.7% increase in electric car sales compared to January 2022, and electric vehicles now comprising one in four cars sold.
Norway's leadership in electric vehicle adoption is being challenged by other countries. Denmark has seen a dramatic surge in BEV sales, from 2% to 68% in a decade, while the Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, and Sweden have also surpassed 33% BEV market share. Small, wealthy nations are leading Europe's clean transport transition, but they are joined by emerging markets like China and India.
China's electric car sales, including hybrids, have outpaced those of internal combustion engine cars. Turkey has also made significant strides, catching up with the EU in BEV adoption and surpassing Norway in absolute electric market size.
