Tesla has shattered Norway's all-time annual vehicle sales record with over a month remaining in 2025, registering 26,666 vehicles year-to-date. This milestone, driven by the Model Y and a rush ahead of upcoming VAT changes, positions Tesla to surpass Volkswagen as the top automaker in the country. The success highlights Norway's mature EV market amid Tesla's struggles elsewhere.
Tesla achieved a historic feat in Norway by registering 26,666 vehicles so far in 2025, exceeding Volkswagen's previous record of 26,572 units from 2016, according to data from Elbil Statistik cited in a CarUp report. This surge occurred with one month left in the year, bolstered by 4,260 new registrations in November alone. The Model Y dominated with 21,517 units, followed by the Model 3 at 5,087, while the Model S, Model X, and even the Cybertruck added smaller numbers at 30, 19, and 13 registrations, respectively.
The demand spike stems from Norwegian buyers hurrying to purchase before January 2026 VAT changes, which are expected to increase the Model Y's price by approximately NOK 50,000. Norway's policies have long supported EV adoption, with more than 97 percent of new car registrations being electric as of May, per the European Alternative Fuels Observatory. The country, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030, offers incentives like reduced VAT, registration taxes, and road fees for EVs, funded partly by its $1.7 trillion Government Pension Fund from oil and gas revenues. It has also built extensive charging infrastructure, including fast chargers on major roads.
This contrasts sharply with Tesla's global performance. In Europe, sales dropped 28.5 percent in the first nine months of 2025, according to Reuters. China saw sales hit a three-year low, and in the U.S., Tesla captured only 40 percent of EV sales in October. In Sweden and Denmark, registrations fell despite rising EV adoption, partly due to competition from Chinese and European makers and backlash against Elon Musk's politics. However, Norway's non-EU status and brand loyalty have insulated Tesla there, providing a model for mature EV markets if aligned with strong incentives and infrastructure.