Norway, a country known for its strict emission regulations and promotion of electric vehicles, has witnessed a slight increase in electric passenger car market share in March 2023, surpassing the results from the same month in the previous year. With a market share of 86.8%, electric cars remain the top choice of Norwegians. Out of all electric cars sold in the country, the Tesla Model Y has emerged as the clear winner, accounting for a whopping 44.3% market share. In March 2023 alone, 7,445 new Tesla Model Ys were registered in Norway.
After a lacklustre start to the year, the Norwegian electric vehicle market saw an increase in registrations in March. The total number of electric cars registered in the month stood at 16,811, marking a 20.2% increase compared to the previous year. However, due to the weak performance in January, the figures for the first quarter of 2023 are 9.6% lower than the same period in 2022. In total, there were 24,231 new electric vehicle registrations in Q1 2023.
See also: In Norway, 11,722 new electric cars were registered in June, market share of 78.7%
While electric vehicles remain the most popular choice in Norway, plug-in hybrids still hold a market share of 4.3%. Of the 19,366 new cars registered in March, only 1.0% were gasoline-only cars, while diesel cars accounted for just 1.7%. The trend towards hybridizing internal combustion-only vehicles has led to a 170.7% increase in the registration of hybrid cars (excluding PHEVs), with 1,191 units sold in March 2023.
The decreasing market share of internal combustion engines is reflected in the average CO2 emissions of passenger cars registered in Norway. According to the Norwegian Road Information Agency, the average CO2 emissions per kilometre for passenger cars registered in March stood at a mere 12.4 g, a positive trend towards lower emissions.
See also: China now has 1.6 million charging stations, the biggest in the world
The Tesla Model Y’s dominance in the Norwegian market is evident from its sales figures, which are three times higher than all non-electric cars combined. The only two non-electric cars that made it to the top ten list are the Toyota Yaris and the Corolla, both likely to be mostly hybrids, which explains their growth in the March statistics.
The popularity of electric cars in Norway can be attributed to the country’s policies and incentives that promote their use. Norway’s electric vehicle policies include exemption from sales tax, lower road tolls, and free access to public charging stations. These incentives have made electric cars more accessible and affordable for Norwegians.
See also: Covid Lockdown Affects Electric Vehicle Production in China
As the world shifts towards a greener future, Norway continues to lead the way in promoting the use of electric vehicles. With policies and incentives that make electric cars more affordable and accessible, it is no surprise that Norway is home to one of the highest electric vehicle market shares in the world.
