Battery-electric vehicles accounted for nearly all new passenger car registrations in Norway in 2025, reinforcing the country’s position as a global leader in electric vehicle adoption, according to annual data published by the Norwegian Road Information Authority.
Electric cars represented 95.9% of all new passenger car registrations last year, up from 88.9% in 2024, the authority said. A total of 179,550 passenger cars were registered during the year, surpassing the previous record set in 2021, with 172,233 of those vehicles being battery-electric.
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“2025 was an exceptional year for cars,” said Geir Inge Stokke, director of the Norwegian Road Information Authority. “We are seeing the effects of a long-term, targeted electric vehicle policy and how specific tax decisions have an immediate impact on the market.”
December registrations surged sharply ahead of an upcoming change to value-added tax rules. Norway registered 35,188 new passenger cars during the month, up 158% year on year, with electric vehicles accounting for 97.6% of sales.
“The year-end surge was historically strong, and there is no doubt that the upcoming VAT change from 1 January 2026 contributed to many people securing a new electric car before the end of the year,” Stokke said.
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The authority also said 2025 marked the first year in which electric passenger cars outnumbered diesel vehicles in Norway’s total vehicle fleet. Diesel registrations continued to decline, accounting for just 1% of new cars last year, while petrol vehicles represented 0.3%. Hybrid and other drivetrains made up the remaining share.
“We can be proud that Norway has achieved its ambitious zero-emission target for new car sales,” Stokke said, adding that two-thirds of cars currently on the road still run on fossil fuels and that regional differences in adoption remain.
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Tesla strengthened its position as Norway’s leading car brand in 2025, registering 34,285 vehicles and capturing a market share of 19.1%, according to the data. The Tesla Model Y set a national record with 27,621 registrations, the highest annual total ever recorded for a single car model in Norway.
“This is the highest number ever recorded for a single car model in Norway within a year,” Stokke said. “That a brand can achieve such volumes with so few models speaks volumes about the demand and impact of Tesla in the Norwegian market.”
Volkswagen recorded 23,938 registrations during the year, representing a 13.3% market share, and closed the year strongly with a surge in December sales. Chinese automakers also expanded their presence, with vehicles of Chinese origin accounting for 13.7% of new registrations, up from 10.4% the previous year. BYD was the strongest Chinese brand, driven by demand for the Sealion 7 model.
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Electric adoption extended beyond passenger cars. Battery-electric vans accounted for 45.2% of new van registrations in 2025, while electric buses represented 56.3% of new registrations. In the heavy truck segment, however, electric vehicles accounted for 17.3% of new registrations, with diesel still dominating the market.