Tesla’s sales in Norway plummeted in February, with a sharp drop in new registrations. However, an associate professor from the University of Bergen offers a straightforward explanation for the decline.
The brand has found itself on a so-called "hate list" in Norway, where sales are in free fall.
Registrations of new Tesla Model Ys dropped by 70% in February 2025 compared to the same month the previous year. This marks a stark reversal for Tesla in Norway, one of its historically strongest markets.
"Tesla is at the top of the hate list at NAF and the Consumer Council," says Thor Øivind Jenssen, an associate professor at the University of Bergen, speaking to TV2.
The downward trend began in January, when Tesla registrations fell by 38% compared to January 2024. As of February 27, Tesla still needed to register another 550 cars to match last year’s numbers.
This represents a significant drop from 1,749 cars registered during the same period in 2024. And the decline is not limited to Norway.
In Sweden, Tesla registrations fell by 44% in February, while figures for Denmark have yet to be released.
What’s Behind Tesla’s Declining Sales?
According to Norwegian broadcaster TV2, a total of 8,360 new electric cars were registered in Norway in February. Robert Næss, investment director at Nordea, attributes Tesla’s falling sales to multiple factors.
"I think it’s a mix of some people having a negative perception of Musk and the fact that Tesla is no longer a significantly better purchase than other electric cars," Næss wrote in a media comment.
Additionally, delays in the delivery of new models may be causing some buyers to hold off on purchasing. The first deliveries of a newly marked car model may start this month, potentially influencing consumer decisions.
