Norway Full Year 2013: VW Golf #1, Nissan Leaf on podium!

Nissan Leaf

* See the Top 20 best-selling models and Top 50 All-brands by clicking on the title! *

New car sales in Norway gain 3% year-on-year in 2013 to 142,151 registrations. If the VW Golf manages a 6th consecutive year atop the models ranking thanks to sales up a fantastic 17% to 7,366 units and 5.2% share, the rest of the ranking has gone mad, making Norway one of the most interesting countries to follow this year. Half of the models ranking inside the Top 10 this year are new to this level, but let’s get straight to the point: the big event this year in Norway is the incredible success of two electric-powered cars. Firstly the Tesla Model S, which created a proper earthquake in September when it simply took the lead of the Norwegian models ranking, but far from being a one-hit wonder it went on to rank #2 in November and #1 again in December! In spite of being in market for only four month, the Model S managed to slip inside the year-end Top 20 at #20 with 1,983 sales and 1.4%, by far its best performance worldwide.

No one could have predicted the Tesla Model S would top the Norwegian rankings twice this year…

The second electric superstar this year in Norway is the Nissan Leaf, which also managed the unheard-of feat of topping the monthly sales charts (in October) in what was also a world-first. The Leaf stayed consistent all year long, ranking inside the Top 5 for 7 out of 12 months, and finishes 2013 in a brilliant third position with 4,604 units and 3.4% share, exactly doubling its 2012 sales.

The Mazda CX-5 ranks at a world-best #4 this year in Norway.

But wait there are a lot more outstanding performers in the Norwegian Top 10 this year… Boosted by their hybrid versions, the Toyota Auris is up 89% to #2 while the Yaris is up 14% to #5. While in 2011 the Mitsubishi ASX achieved world-best sales figures in Norway, this year the Mazda CX-5 is the ‘SUV du jour’, tripling its 2012 sales to 4,387 and 3.1% at #4 and peaking at a world-best #2 in January, February and March. The Volvo V40 is up 600% to #6 for its first full year, the Toyota RAV4 is up 107% to #8, Mitsubishi Outlander up 116% to #12 and the Mercedes A-Class up 418% to #19.

Previous post: Norway December 2013: Tesla Model S best-seller again!

One year ago: Norway Full Year 2012: VW Tiguan and Nissan Leaf impress

Two years ago: Norway Full Year 2011: VW Golf and Passat lead, Mitsubishi ASX at world best

Full Year 2013 Top 20 models and Top 50 brands Ranking Tables below.