Norway’s Petrol Car Sales Collapse – What It Means for the UK Market

The global shift towards electrification has taken another dramatic step, with petrol car sales in Norway now effectively disappearing altogether.

The Scandinavian country has long been a leader in electric vehicle (EV) adoption, but recent figures show just how complete that transition has become, and how far behind markets like the UK still are.

In January 2026, Norway registered just seven new petrol cars across the entire country. That figure is not a statistical anomaly but part of a wider trend that has seen fossil-fuelled vehicles almost entirely phased out of the new car market. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for around 96–98% of all new car sales throughout 2025 and early 2026, leaving petrol and diesel models as a tiny minority.

This represents a remarkable transformation. Only a decade ago, EVs were still considered niche across most of Europe. Today, Norway is effectively operating in a post-petrol new car market.

Why Norway Got There First

Norway’s success is no accident. A combination of strong government policy and consumer incentives has driven the transition. High taxes on internal combustion engine vehicles, combined with generous incentives for EV buyers, including VAT exemptions, reduced tolls, and access to bus lanes, have made electric cars the default choice.

Equally important is infrastructure. Norway has invested heavily in charging networks and renewable energy, meaning EV ownership is both practical and cost-effective. The result is a market where choosing petrol is no longer economically or socially attractive.

The UK: Progress, But a Long Way to Go

By comparison, the UK is still in the early-to-mid stages of electrification. While EV adoption is accelerating, petrol cars remain a significant part of the market.

Recent figures show that battery electric vehicles account for around 23–26% of new car sales in 2026, well below government targets. Petrol vehicles, meanwhile, still hold a substantial share, around 40% or more of new registrations, even as their dominance declines.

There are clear signs of momentum. EV sales in the UK are growing rapidly, driven by rising fuel costs and improved model availability. However, the pace of change is uneven, with private buyers still hesitant due to upfront costs, charging concerns, and broader economic pressures.

Key Differences Between the Markets

The gap between Norway and the UK highlights several key differences:

• Policy strength: Norway’s aggressive taxation of petrol cars contrasts with the UK’s more gradual approach.
• Infrastructure readiness: Charging availability remains a concern for many UK drivers, particularly outside major cities.
• Consumer economics: While EVs are becoming more competitive in the UK, the financial case is not yet as compelling as it is in Norway.

What Happens Next?

The UK government has committed to banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035, but Norway’s example shows what a fully electrified market looks like in practice, and how quickly it can happen under the right conditions.

For UK motorists and the wider motor trade, Norway offers both a glimpse of the future and a benchmark. Petrol cars may still dominate British roads today, but if current trends continue, their decline is inevitable.

The real question is not whether the UK will follow Norway, but how quickly it can close the gap.