Norway has made history as the first country in the world to completely ban the sale of new petrol and diesel passenger cars, following its 2025 deadline set a decade ago. In the final quarter before the deadline, EVs already accounted for 97% of all new car registrations, making the transition almost seamless.
The Norwegian government’s long-term consistency with incentives โ exempting EVs from VAT, offering free parking, free toll roads, and access to bus lanes โ is widely credited as the model for successful EV policy. Norway now has the world’s highest per-capita rate of EV ownership, with one in three cars on the road being electric.
The ban covers passenger cars only. Light commercial vehicles will follow in 2027 and heavy trucks in 2030. Norway’s success is being closely studied by the UK, Canada, and 14 other countries that have set similar phase-out dates between 2030 and 2040.
