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March noticed plugin EVs take 93.2% share in Norway, up from 91.5% year-on-year. PHEVs noticed a big pull ahead forward of an April 1st tax tightening, and thus quickly took share from BEVs. General auto quantity was 13,304 models, up some 36% YoY, although from a low base. The brand new Tesla Mannequin Y Juniper was one of the best vendor.
March’s auto gross sales noticed mixed EVs take 93.2% share in Norway, comprising 84.1% full electrics (BEVs), and 9.1% plugin hybrids (PHEVs). These examine with YoY figures of 91.5% mixed, with 89.3% BEV, and a pair of.2% PHEV.
As talked about in final month’s report, April 1st sees a big enhance in taxes on PHEVs, and thus March represented a last-chance to buy these automobiles earlier than that efficient value enhance. They thus noticed an enormous pull ahead, to 1,210 models, some 4.5x their trailing 12 month common. Due to this short-term distortion, BEV share took the corresponding dent. Extra importantly, BEV volumes had been up by 28.5% 12 months on 12 months, to 11,192 models.
I’ve reiterated a number of occasions that Norway’s incentive coverage ought to certainly prioritise BEVs > PHEVs > HEVs > ICE. But, for some purpose, there’s an obvious puritanical stance directed in the direction of casting PHEVs as the numerous sinners, although diesels and HEVs (each fully depending on fossil gasoline combustion) have every been constantly promoting in greater numbers. If somebody can clarify this to me, I’d be grateful. Final month I ascribed it to what Weber referred to as Gesinnungsethik, a considerably simplistic virtue-signalling method to morality.
Anyway, let’s see what occurs with this new penalty tax on PHEVs. I think that – somewhat than the supposed results of solely BEVs shifting into the house left over by diminished PHEV gross sales – in actuality, each diesels and HEVs may also develop their gross sales a bit, to occupy the vacant market share.
Finest Promoting BEV Fashions
The brand new Tesla Mannequin Y “Juniper” replace began delivering in Norway in March, and has already regained the highest spot within the rankings, with 1,817 models delivered. A couple of of the registrations had been seemingly ultimate stock models of the outgoing mannequin (there are nonetheless 44 of those listed on Tesla Norway’s “stock” web page as of early April), although I’d guess that the good majority had been the brand new Juniper.
In second place was the Volkswagen ID.Buzz, with 582 models, its largest quantity previously 12 months. In third was the Nissan Ariya (final month’s chief) with 553 models.
Volkswagen Group took 5 of the highest 10, an honest end result, with the ID.7 hitting its highest volumes but, with 520 models, taking fifth spot.
Additional again, in fifteenth place, the Xpeng G6 additionally noticed its highest volumes up to now, with 183 models. Simply outdoors the highest 20, the BYD Sealion, and the Audi A6 e-tron, every noticed private greatest volumes.
The brand new Hyundai Inster, which first noticed first rate quantity in February (with 62 models), noticed a gentle ramp up of deliveries to 105 models in March. On this trendline, it ought to enter the highest 20 in Could or June, although a lot will rely upon Hyundai’s delivery schedules from Korea over to Europe. This can be a promising trajectory, and would appear to reply my query from final month as as to if this dimension of automobile can have broad enchantment in Norway.
In the long term, if there’s adequate sustained demand for Inster in Europe, Hyundai could begin manufacturing the Inster of their manufacturing unit in Nošovice, Czech Republic.
As for March’s BEV debutants, there have been three. The best quantity entry was 22 models, for the Voyah Braveness, a mid-sized SUV with size of 4,725 mm, and an MSRP from NOK 419,900 (€35,600). This competes with the Tesla Mannequin Y (from NOK 444,990), although undercutting the class chief on worth by a really slight 6%. The WLTP vary of the entry 2WD variant of the Braveness is 445 km, and the Voyah web site lists 10% to 80% DC charging in 32 minutes. These are okay technical specs, although not outstanding in 2025, and never very aggressive in comparison with the entry Mannequin Y’s 500 km and 24 minute charging (with the reliability of the Supercharger community).
Voyah’s different mannequin, the “Free” solely averages about 11 models per thirty days, so let’s see if the brand new Braveness mannequin could have any larger success. It could be that the 22 unit debut can be its highest quantity for some time to come back, until it may well maybe compete extra successfully (with Tesla and others) on worth. Maybe the “road worth” for the Voyah Braveness can be considerably decrease than the MSRP? Tell us within the feedback when you have native information.
The second debutant in March, with 19 preliminary models, was the brand new MG S5, a compact-mid SUV with size of 4,476 mm. For reference, that is roughly the identical dimension as the present Kia Niro (4,420 mm), and bit longer than the MG ZS (4,323 mm) which hearsay says it should finally substitute. The brand new MG S5 has not but formally launched to prospects in Norway (these 19 models are seemingly for take a look at drives and showrooms) and doesn’t but have an official MSRP or reservations web page.
We should always control the MG S5 as a result of – like all different MG fashions – it should seemingly be very keenly priced (presumably beginning near 350,000 NOK), and have practically 500 km WLTP vary. In that case, it has an honest likelihood to slide into the highest 20, at the very least a number of the time.
The ultimate March debutant, with only a single unit, was the brand new Citroen e-C3 Aircross. That is the a lot bigger (4,395 mm), chunkier, compact-mid SUV sibling of the common Citroen e-C3 (3,981 mm), with a dimension near that of the Kia Niro and MG S5 talked about above.
The MSRP of the Aircross begins from 279,900 NOK (€23,750), for the 44 kWh entry model, with a WLTP vary of 303 km. There was early hypothesis that it’d include the choice of seven seats – however I haven’t seen that confirmed within the official particulars but (please tell us when you have insights).
There could later be an choice for a barely bigger battery. This might open the Aircross as much as many extra Norwegian consumers, because the ranking of 303 km will make the 44 kWh solely marginally sensible for lengthy journeys within the mid-winter. In southern European temperatures, nonetheless, it’s a distinct story, because the 44 kWh Aircross will seemingly be sufficient for a lot of people, thus it does make sense as a European mannequin.
Don’t neglect that the Nissan Leaf 40 kWh has amassed lots of of 1000’s of gross sales over the previous 7 years, and nonetheless sells decently in a number of markets to this present day. That’s regardless of the 40 kWh Leaf having 10% much less vary, and considerably slower charging (particularly after the primary DC cost) than this 44 kWh Citroen e-C3 Aircross. Not everybody wants their automobile to be a roadtrip maestro. Let’s control the Aircross.
Right here’s the check-up on the 3-month rankings:
With the first rate March efficiency, the Tesla Mannequin Y remained on the high of the trailing 3-month chart. The Toyota BZ4X took second, with the Nissan Ariya in third (although solely fractionally forward of the Volkswagen ID.4).
The notable progress continues for the Kia EV3, which solely noticed its debut in November, and thus didn’t function within the high 20 three months in the past. Since then it has climbed steadily, to twenty fourth in January’s trailing 3-months, then 18th in February, and now to eleventh spot within the March chart. That is already a fantastic end result, although I anticipate it will likely be a frequent customer into the highest 10 sooner or later.
It’s attainable to see the brand new Hyundai Inster making it into the highest 20 in just a few months from now, if demand is sustained and the availability is there. Let’s preserve an eye fixed out for that.
Outlook
The nominal March uptick in YoY auto volumes got here from a low base, with Q1 2025 total barely down on seasonal norms. The broader Norwegian financial system noticed a downtick within the newest macro knowledge, with 2024 This autumn displaying damaging -0.3% GDP year-on-year.
Nevertheless, erratic quarterly GDP figures are pretty regular for tiny Norway, closely dependent as it’s on fossil gasoline export receipts. Inflation noticed an uptick to three.6% in February (newest knowledge), from 2.3% in January. Rates of interest remained flat at 4.5% in March, unchanged since December 2023. Manufacturing PMI was at 50.6 factors in March, down from 51.9 factors in February.
Let’s see what occurs within the coming few months to PHEV gross sales, in comparison with the opposite residual powertrains. With ever less complicated and extra reasonably priced BEV fashions coming out there, the EV transition in Norway will little question proceed, and it’s fascinating to observe the dynamics of the late-phase adoption curve play out.
What are your ideas on Norway’s auto market? What fashions are you looking for? Please share your ideas within the feedback beneath.
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