Norway March 2018

56% PEV Share!

March witnessed a perfect storm of positive events (Leaf deliveries in full swing, Tesla deliveries peak...), that helped for a historic performance of PEVs in Norway, not only the 2.172 registrations of the Nissan Leaf was the best selling monthly result on ANY model in this market, but the 37% BEV share (and 56% PEV) were the highest shares ever in any market, being the first time that Plug-ins outsold regular ICE vehicles, all thanks to a record 8.035 PEV registrations.

The rapid market electrification was visible in the fuels mix last month, BEVs were the best selling technology, with 37% share, with PHEVs responsible for 19% of the total market, with the two added equaling 56% share, while on the other hand, diesel-powered cars scored a low 16% share (It was 25% twelve months ago), not only below plug-ins, but also behind regular gas cars (20% share last month, 26% in March '17), with the remainder (8%) going to regular HEVs, which were also down YoY.

At this pace, Diesel will be dead in Norway by 2020...And the same for regular gasoline vehicles around 2022...

Looking at March Top Sellers, it was all about the new Nissan Leaf, scoring an all-time record of 2.172 units in one month, do not expect the Japanese hatchback to remain at such high levels for long, but 1.000 units/month should be achieved a few more times this year. 

The remaining podium places went for the Tesla siblings, benefitting from the usual last-month-of-quarter peak, with the Model X once again outselling its older brother (727 vs 676).

Pl	Model	Sales
1	Nissan Leaf	2.172
2	Tesla Model X	727
3	Tesla Model S	676
4	BMW i3	528
5	Mit. Outlander PHEV	438

Looking at the YTD ranking, the most important news were of course the Nissan Leaf jumping to the leadership (And one can imagine for a long time), switching places with the VW e-Golf, down two places to Third, while the Tesla nameplates surged 11 positions to #5 (Model X) and #6 (Model S).

Another model on the rise was the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, that thanks to 438 units delivered last month (Best result this year), it climbed to #7.

In the manufacturers ranking, last month leader BMW (14%, down 5%) was trailed by the new Top Dog Nissan (19%), while the Third Placed Volvo (13%, down 1%) managed to overcome Volkswagen (13%, down 5%), that in one month dropped from Second to Fourth.

Source: elbil.no; ofvas.no

Models breakdown by Fuel Source

Pl	Model	Sales
1	Nissan Leaf	2.172
2	Tesla Model X	727
3	Tesla Model S	676
4	BMW i3	528
5 6 7 8 9 10	Mit. Outlander PHEV VW e-Golf Volvo S/V90 PHEV Renault Zoe Volvo XC60 PHEV Toyota RAV4	438 433 394 347 314 295

With 56% PEV share, the PEV market is starting to look a lot like the mainstream market, breaking down sales by fuel source, we have six(!) BEVs, three PHEVs, one HEV (In Tenth) and no ICE model.

BEVs took all top four places, with the best selling PHEV (Outlander PHEV) being only Fifth, meaning that buyers are starting to favor again BEVs, while the best selling model without a Plug (Toyota RAV4) was only #10.

This says that Toyota hybrids are also feeling the sting of Plug-ins, with sales plunging to half of what they had in 2016. 

With regular ICE models wiped out (For good?) from the Top 10,  and the best selling HEV only #10, it won't be long for a full Plug-in Top 10. Maybe next June?