Car sales
Norway EV sales April 2026 – Volkswagen dethrones Tesla
Published May 15, 2026 · Elbilvalg.no
April was a historic month for Norwegian car sales: 98.6 percent of all new passenger cars were electric — a new national record. The big surprise was Volkswagen knocking Tesla off the top spot after a quarter of Tesla dominance.
New EV share record: 98.6%
For the second month in a row, Norway set a new record for electric vehicle market share. In April, 98.6 percent of all newly registered passenger cars were fully electric, up from 98.4 percent in March. For the first time ever, all of Norway's counties exceeded 95 percent EV share, with Ostfold leading at 99.3 percent.
A total of 11,103 new passenger cars were registered in April, which is 183 fewer than in April 2025 — a decrease of 1.6 percent. Year-to-date, 38,278 new passenger cars have been registered in 2026, down 10.7 percent compared to the same period last year.
Top 10 models in April
Volkswagen dominated the rankings with three models, while Toyota matched them with three of their own:
| Rank | Model | Registrations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Volkswagen ID.4 | 781 |
| 2 | Toyota Urban Cruiser | 583 |
| 3 | Volkswagen ID.3 | 543 |
| 4 | BMW iX3 | — |
| 5–6 | Toyota (two models) | — |
| 8 | Volkswagen (third model) | — |
| 9 | Tesla Model Y | 324 |
Source: OFV (Norwegian Road Information Council). Full list available at ofv.no.
Volkswagen's comeback
After a sluggish first quarter, Volkswagen made a strong comeback in April. The brand became the month's best-seller with 1,735 registrations. VW placed three models in the top 10: the ID.4 in first, ID.3 in third, and a third model in eighth place.
A significant part of the explanation is bulk deliveries to car rental companies. This means the April numbers don't necessarily reflect private buyers' preferences alone.
Toyota surprises
Toyota took second place among brands with 1,419 registrations. The Toyota Urban Cruiser, built on a Suzuki platform, became the month's second most registered model with 583 units. Toyota had three models among the top six, confirming the brand is taking Norway's EV transition seriously.
Tesla's drop: down 61 percent
The most discussed development in April was Tesla's dramatic decline. Only 324 new Tesla Model Y cars were registered, down 61 percent from April 2025. Tesla fell to 11th place among brands for the month, and Model Y ended up in ninth place among models.
The decline has several explanations:
- Front-loaded demand: Many buyers purchased Teslas in Q1 2026 and late 2025, depleting the order book.
- Delivery cycles: Tesla typically delivers in waves, with large peaks at the end of each quarter. April marks the start of a new quarter.
- Increased competition: Models like the VW ID.4, Toyota Urban Cruiser and BMW iX3 are capturing market share.
Despite the April dip, Tesla remains by far the best-selling brand in 2026 overall, with a market share of 20.4 percent year-to-date.
What this means for EV buyers
For those considering an EV, the April numbers are good news. Increased competition means better prices and more choices. Here are some models to watch:
- Volkswagen ID.4 — April's most registered EV. A spacious family SUV with solid range and proven quality.
- Toyota Urban Cruiser — A newcomer already in second place. Compact and relatively affordable.
- BMW iX3 — Premium SUV climbing the charts. Strong on driving dynamics and tech.
- Tesla Model Y — Still Norway's best-seller in 2026. Now with more competitive pricing than ever.
Use the comparison tool to see how these models stack up on price, range and specifications.
April 2026 at a glance
| New passenger cars registered | 11,103 |
| EV share | 98.6% |
| Change from April 2025 | −1.6% |
| Year-to-date 2026 | 38,278 |
| YTD change vs. 2025 | −10.7% |
| New vans registered | 1,991 |
| Van EV share | 55.8% |
| EVs in Norwegian car fleet | 33.5% |
Source: Norwegian Road Information Council (OFV), Norwegian EV Association.