Norway has become the first country in the world where half of all new cars purchased are electric, according to a new report.
The Norwegian Road Federation (OFV) said EVs accounted for 54.3% of new car sales in 2020, an increase from 42% in 2019.
And in December last year, some 66.7% of new vehicle sales were EVs, a new monthly record.
While the sale of EVs had broken the 50%-mark in individual months, 2020 was the first time that fully electric cars outsold the combined volume of fossil fuel models in a year as a whole.
As part of Norway’s goal to end the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2025, the country has eliminated taxes for fully electric vehicles.
Furthermore, sales are set to continue to grow in 2021, with industry analysts predicting EVs to surpass 65% as more models are brought to the market.
Christina Bu, who heads up the Norwegian EV Association, said: “If we manage that, the goal of selling only zero-emission cars in 2025 will be within reach.”
Volkswagen’s Audi brand topped the 2020 leader board, with its e-tron sports utility and sportsback vehicles the most sold new passenger cars in Norway. Tesla’s mid-sized Model 3, the 2019 winner, dropped to second place.
The Volkswagen ID.3 and the Nissan Leaf came third and forth, with the Volkswagen Golf fifth.
