Norway February 2019: Tesla Model 3 lands directly at #2, Jaguar i-Pace #7 in first market uptick in 6 months

The Tesla Model 3 has finally landed in the home of EVs: Norway.

Breaking with the rest of Scandinavia, in February Norwegian new car sales manage their first year-on-year gain since last September at a very sturdy +9% to 11.106 units, lifting the year-to-date tally up 3.7% to 20.110. Volkswagen (+33.9%) gallops ahead to cement its domination of the brands ranking at 15.3% share, distancing Toyota (-1.6%) at 9.6% while Tesla (+1154.3%) is up 12-fold on its February 2018 score to 9.1% share and over 1.000 sales thanks to the arrival of the Model 3 (see below). Also boosted by sales of their new EV offerings, Jaguar (+1576%), Hyundai (+179.8%) and Mitsubishi (+119.2%) all post gargantuan gains this month and all place inside the Top 10.

Over in the models ranking, if the VW Golf (+32.7%) posts a very solid result to remain the best-selling nameplate in the country for the third straight month, the hero of the month is the Tesla Model 3, finally reaching the shores of the most EV-friendly market on the planet. And as expected the landing is spectacular, with the Model 3 instantly ranking at #2 overall with 7.1% share. Even though it wasn’t enough for the brand to break its records which remain 2.455 sales in December 2017 and 19% share in September 2018, models records are now in danger: the Model X reached #1 in December 2017 (1.429 sales) and September 2018 (11.6% share) and the Model S hit #1 in September 2013 (1.493 sales and 10.8%), December 2013 and March 2014.

The Mitsubishi Outlander (+135.2%) edges up one spot to climb on teh podium, knocking the 2018 leader, the Nissan Leaf (-35%) down to #4. The Hyundai Kona (+2506.3%) sees its sales surge thanks to the new EV version ahead of the BMW i3 (+5%) with the Jaguar i-Pace back inside the Top 10 at #7, its 2nd highest ranking below the #5 it hit last October. The Ford Focus (+172.3%), Tesla Model X (+166%), Renault Zoe (+139.1%), VW T-Roc (+123.1%), Kia Niro (+56%), Hyundai Ioniq (+52.4%) and VW Tiguan (+48.3%) also post outstanding gains in the remainder of the Top 20.

Previous month: Norway January 2019: Jaguar (+910%), Mitsubishi (+267%), Nissan (+253%) up, Hyundai Kona #6

One year ago: Norway February 2018: Nissan Leaf best-seller in market down 13.5%

Full February 2019 Top 20 brands and models below.