The year 2025 marks a significant milestone for the automotive industry, particularly in Europe. This is the year when new emissions limits take effect—limits that, according to ACEA and Luca de Meo, are so stringent they will push manufacturers to offer significant discounts on battery-powered vehicles (BEVs). The aim is to boost sales and market share, even in countries where BEVs have been slow to gain traction, such as Spain or Italy.
However, in Scandinavia, such measures are unnecessary, as EV adoption is already at record levels. By December 2024, electric vehicles accounted for 62% of new registrations in Denmark, two-thirds in Sweden, and over 90% in Norway. For Norway, 2025 is essentially what 2035 is theoretically expected to be for the rest of Europe.
Only electric cars?
It is unclear whether only electric cars can be sold in Norway starting this year. Previous government plans aimed to restrict sales to “zero-emission vehicles,” but it seems no formal agreement was ever finalized.
Regardless, an official ban is almost redundant. Norway’s fiscal policies have long favored zero-emission vehicles, and the current success owes much to these measures. While some incentives have been scaled back in recent years—such as reintroducing weight-based taxes for EVs—the shift towards electrification seems irreversible.
Manufacturers have adapted accordingly. Since 2023, Hyundai has sold only its Ioniq and Kona electric models in Norway, while Ford exports its F-150 Lightning to Norway alone within Europe. On most automaker websites, with exceptions like Mazda and a few other Japanese brands, the available models are now exclusively electric.
Despite the progress, challenges remain. The premium EV market has become saturated, prompting new players like Zeekr to adopt alternative approaches. Additionally, the charging infrastructure outside major cities like Oslo and Bergen struggles to keep pace with the growing number of electric vehicles.
Ultimately, Norway’s long-term goal is a reduction in the total number of vehicles. Nonetheless, the country demonstrates that climate conditions are not a barrier to widespread EV adoption. Harald V’s monarchy has set a compelling example for the rest of the world, showing that a shift towards sustainable mobility is achievable, even in the harshest of environments.
Denmark: an example for the EU?
In December 2024, more than one in six newly registered vehicles in Denmark was electric, marking a historic milestone: for the first time ever, more electric cars were sold than gasoline, diesel, and hybrid cars combined. Of the 173,047 passenger cars sold throughout the year, an impressive 51.5% were fully electric, officially making 2024 the year of the EV in Denmark.
Denmark’s electric vehicle sales trajectory is beginning to resemble that of Norway- Experts predict that Danish EV adoption rates could approach Norwegian levels by 2026—provided that policymakers maintain low taxes on electric vehicles.
In countries like Germany, Sweden, and partially in France, EV sales have plateaued after the removal of economic incentives. Denmark, however, has emerged as the EU leader in EV adoption, boasting the highest percentage of electric vehicles among its new car sales.
The Danish example underscores the importance of government incentives in driving the shift towards sustainable transportation. If Denmark continues its current trajectory, it could set a benchmark for other European nations aiming to accelerate their transition to greener mobility.
