Norway May 2022: BMW (+72.3%) defies market down -18%, VW ID.4 best-seller

First Norwegian Top 10 finish for the BMW i4.

The Norwegian new car market sinks another -18% year-on-year in May to 11,537 registrations, pulling the year-to-date tally down -15.6% to 53,604. BEV sales edge down -0.6% to 8,445 units and 73.2% share for the month but surge 21.7% to 42,455 and and 79.2% year-to-date. PHEV sales dive -57.3% to 1,375 and 11.9% share in May and implode -72.7% year-to-date to 4,695 and 8.8% share. HEV is down -26.4% to 808 and 7% for the month and -41.2% year-to-date to 2,699 and 5% so far this year. Meanwhile petrol cars hold 4.2% share at 486 sales and 3.7% YTD and diesel is at 3.7% and 423 sales and 3.3% YTD.

Volkswagen (-1.9%) resists very well and snaps the brands top spot with 11.4% share but the performer of the month is BMW soaring 72.3% to 10.8% share vs. 7.8% year-to-date thanks to excellent scores by the iX and i4 as we’ll see further down. Toyota (-39.8%) and Volvo (-19.4%) fall even faster than the market whereas Hyundai (+33.6%) is very strong at #5 and Audi (+8.7%) also shines. Polestar (+69.3%) continues to gear up and gains three spots on April to end the month at #8. In contrast Skoda (-64.9%) and Ford (-72.7%) implode. Just outside the Top 10, Suzuki (+27.6%) and MG (+75.9%) manage excellent upticks. Chinese newcomer BYD is up six ranks on last month to #15, outselling Tesla (-54.7%). Fellow Chinese Hongqi is down three to #21 and NIO up one to #25.

The VW ID.4 (+18.2%) is up to first place this month and for the third time after April and October 2021. It ranks #2 year-to-date for now. The BMW iX is up to #2 for the second time after last February, it distances the Polestar 2 (+69.3%) up two spots on April to end the month on the third step of the podium. It’s its second time at #3 after September 2020. The Volvo XC40 (-38.6%) loses the top spot it held last month to #4 while the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is up three to #5. The Ford Mustang Mach-E, leader a year-ago, tumbles down -76.5% to #6 vs. #10 year-to-date. The BMW i4 makes its first incursion in the Norwegian Top 10 at #7, distancing the Audi Q4 e-Tron (+9733.3%) celebrating one year in market. The Audi e-Tron (-35.3%) and Toyota RAV4 (-66.1%) close out the Top 10 in paltry fashion. Below, the BYD Tang is up 19 spots on April to #12 and the MG Marvel R is up 29 to #13.

Previous month: Norway April 2022: Volvo and XC40 take control of market falling -26%

One year ago: Norway May 2021: Ford Mustang Mach E instant leader in market up 75.8%

Full May 2022 Top 45 All-brands and Top 210 All-models below.