According to data from the Norwegian Public Roads Administration cited by Reuters, the share of electric cars in new-car sales has been steadily increasing over the past decade, reaching 96% in 2025, up from around 82% in 2023. Petrol and diesel cars have become a marginal presence in the new-car market, while plug-in hybrids are also losing share to fully electric vehicles.
Norway’s success is not the result of outright bans, but of a consistent fiscal and infrastructure policy. Electric cars are largely exempt from high registration taxes and VAT, which significantly raise the prices of combustion-engine vehicles. At the same time, the country has invested heavily in a dense charging network, reducing practical barriers for drivers.
The energy mix has also played a crucial role. Norway generates most of its electricity from hydropower, meaning that transport electrification genuinely reduces emissions rather than merely shifting them from tailpipes to power plants. This distinguishes the Norwegian model from countries where electricity is still produced mainly from fossil fuels.
Although Norway had formally planned to end sales of new combustion-engine cars by 2025, Reuters notes that this goal has effectively been achieved without introducing a direct ban. A small number of combustion vehicles are still sold, mainly in niche segments or on special order, but their market share is now largely symbolic.
Norway’s case is increasingly seen as a benchmark for other European countries that have also announced plans to phase out combustion-engine cars in the coming decades. At the same time, it is important to remember that the Norwegian model was enabled by specific economic conditions, high household incomes, and long-term, stable government policy, which makes it difficult to replicate quickly elsewhere. High electricity prices and underdeveloped charging infrastructure remain major obstacles in many regions.