Oslo, Norway — Electrical autos accounted for nearly 4 out of each 5 new automotive registrations in Norway final 12 months, setting a brand new document, based on figures launched Monday. Led by U.S. carmaker Tesla, which topped the checklist with a 12.2% market share, 138,265 new electrical vehicles have been bought within the Scandinavian nation final 12 months, representing 79.3% of whole passenger automotive gross sales, the Norwegian Street Federation (OFV) stated in a press release.
In doing so, Norway, which is each a serious producer of oil and gasoline, in addition to a pioneer for zero-emission vehicles, comfortably beat the earlier document of 64.5% set in 2021.
Comparatively, electrical vehicles made up simply 8.6% of latest automotive registrations within the European Union over the primary 9 months of 2022.
In December alone, electrical vehicles hogged 82.8% of gross sales as Norwegian households rushed to purchase them earlier than a tax change got here into power in 2023.
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Norway goals for all new vehicles to be “zero emission” — in different phrases, electrical or hydrogen – by 2025.
“Eight out of 10 individuals selecting totally electrical as a substitute of combustion engines is a substantial step in the direction of Norway reaching its local weather objective of 100% BEV [battery electric vehicle] gross sales in 2025,” stated Christina Bu, Secretary Normal of the Norwegian Electrical Automobile Affiliation.
“Our message to the remainder of the world is crystal clear: Now there isn’t a excuse for the interior combustion engines’ pointless air pollution when the local weather disaster is so pressing to resolve,” she stated in a press release
To advertise gross sales in Norway, EVs have benefitted from being tax-free, in addition to being charged decrease fares for street tolls and public parking.
However with their reputation rising, and subsequent lack of revenue for the state, Norwegian authorities have began to roll again among the advantages.
As of January 1, the 25% gross sales tax exemption on the acquisition of latest electrical autos applies solely to the primary 500,000 Norwegian kroner (about $50,500) of the worth.
About one in 5 vehicles on Norwegian roads are at the moment electrical.
