Norway: The first country in the world where the number of electric cars exceeds gasoline cars
Norway, a Nordic country famous for its beautiful natural scenery and developed oil and gas economy, has created a big surprise by becoming the first country in the world where the number of electric cars surpasses gasoline cars.
According to the latest figures from the Norwegian Road Federation (OFV), electric vehicles have officially dominated the Norwegian car market for the first time. This is the result of strong incentives, large investments in charging infrastructure and growing public awareness of the benefits of electric vehicles. Norway is gradually realizing its goal of becoming the first country in the world to completely eliminate fossil fuel-powered cars.

Accordingly, OFV has officially confirmed that electric vehicles have officially surpassed gasoline cars to become the most popular type of personal vehicle in this Nordic country. With 754,303 electric cars compared to 753,905 gasoline cars out of a total of 2.8 million registered private cars, Norway has set a new historical milestone in the transition to green transportation.
Although still leading in volume, with sales of less than 1 million units, diesel models are facing a significant decline in sales. This trend clearly shows the irreversible decline of diesel engines in the face of new technologies, especially electric vehicles.
OFV Director Øyvind Solberg Thorsen called this a historic event, a milestone that we could hardly have imagined 10 years ago. This rapid change shows the power of technology and people's awareness of environmental protection.
With rapid electrification, Norway is on track to become the first country in the world to have a passenger car fleet that is predominantly electric. This change is happening faster than expected, demonstrating Norway's strong commitment to the transition to green transportation.
Despite being a major oil and gas producer, Norway has taken a bold vision by setting a target of zero-emissions for all new cars sold in the country by 2025. By prioritizing electric vehicles, Norway is 10 years ahead of the European Union (EU), affirming its pioneering position in the green transport revolution.
This past August saw a historic milestone, with fully electric vehicles accounting for 94.3% of new car registrations in Norway. This explosive growth was largely due to the strong appeal of the Tesla Model Y, the best-selling electric vehicle in the market.
To promote the transition to green transport and realize its climate commitments, the Norwegian government has implemented an extremely attractive tax rebate policy for electric vehicles. Thanks to that, the price of electric vehicles becomes significantly more competitive than traditional vehicles such as gasoline, diesel or hybrid cars, encouraging people to choose environmentally friendly vehicles.
While Norway leads the world in the transition to electric vehicles, the rest of Europe will see electric vehicle sales decline significantly by the end of 2023, accounting for just 12.5% of all new cars. This contrast raises questions about what has made Norway successful and what challenges other countries are facing.