UPDATE: Norway has reached a historic milestone as electric vehicles (EVs) now comprise a staggering 97.5% of new car sales for 2025, effectively outnumbering diesel vehicles on its roads. The Norwegian Road Federation (OFV) confirmed today that this remarkable achievement signals a major shift in the country’s automotive landscape.
Officials report that 172,232 of the 179,549 new passenger vehicles registered this year were fully electric, marking a significant jump from 88.9% in 2024. The final month of the year saw an even more astonishing 97.6% of new cars sold being electric, as incentives for fossil-fuel vehicles began to taper off.
Norway’s ambitious target to end fossil fuel car sales by 2025 was set in 2017, positioning the nation as a global leader in EV adoption. As of December 2025, electric vehicles have overtaken diesel cars for the first time, with EVs now making up 31.78% of the total vehicle fleet compared to 31.76% for diesels.
“Two out of three passenger cars on the road still run on fossil fuels. This is an important milestone, but we must continue working towards an emission-free vehicle fleet,” stated Geir Inge Stokke, director of OFV.
The surge in EV sales was partly driven by the impending reduction in government incentives, which prompted consumers to act quickly to purchase higher-priced models, including Tesla, which captured 19.1% of the market share in 2025. The Tesla Model Y topped sales, outpacing competitors like the VW ID.4 by more than three times.
Despite this success, there remain challenges ahead. Stokke emphasized the need to encourage existing fossil fuel vehicle owners, particularly in remote regions, to transition to cleaner options. Areas like Finnmark reported only 86% of new car sales being electric, highlighting regional disparities in adoption rates.
As Norway celebrates this achievement, the question remains: will the momentum continue? The shift in incentive structures could impact future sales, but with EVs now dominating the market, experts believe the transition to electric is irreversible.
Stay tuned for updates as Norway leads the charge towards a more sustainable automotive future, pushing other nations to follow suit.
