Electric vehicles accounted for 54 percent of cars sold in Norway last year, up 42 percent the previous year, to put the country ahead of its schedule in eliminating polluting vehicles from roads by 2025.

Norway, the largest crude oil producer in western Europe, has been using tax breaks to make EV models cheaper than similar petrol models.

According to the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association, EV users also enjoy other incentives such as reduced fees on state ferries and toll roads and the use of bus lanes.

Electric vehicles now account for two-thirds of all sales during December.

Meanwhile, petrol and diesel cars had now decreased their combined market share from 71 percent in 2015 to 17 percent.

Carmakers have sought to use Norway as a testing ground for their EV ambitions. Volkswagen's Audi was Norway's market leader in 2020, selling 9,227 of its e-tron.

Tesla's Model 3, the 2019 leader, was relegated to second place with 7,770 sales, while Volkswagen's ID.3 was third with 7,754 cars sold.