Tomorrow’s the last day Hyundai will sell any ICE cars in Norway
Hyundai will stop selling any cars with ICE engines in them, including plug-in hybrids, in Norway starting 2023 – one day from now.
Norway has been leading the charge in vehicle electrification for some time, well ahead of the rest of the world in EV market share percentage. Virtually all vehicles in the country have a plug nowadays, with ICE-only vehicles only holding on to a meager few percent of the market.
The decline of gasoline-powered vehicles has been so drastic that despite Norway’s goal to end gas vehicle sales by 2025, the country is already teetering on meeting that goal several years early. There is still a trickle of cars being sold without plugs in them, and we expect that to continue for some time, but for practical purposes, Norway is hovering very close to its goal.
Last year, 64.5% of cars sold in Norway were all-electric, up 10% from the previous year, and this year those numbers are up even further. We’ll get a final number in a couple days, but BEV market share should be just above 80%, with PHEV market share at 10% or so, and petrol- and diesel-only vehicles at 4-5% each.
Notably, PHEV market share has been dropping significantly this year compared to last year, while non-plug cars are holding relatively steady in the high single digit percentages.
So, most manufacturers are still selling cars with engines in them in the country. They may be selling in very small amounts, but you can still get something with an engine in it if you need a niche application. That said, even Svalbard Post has gone all-electric with its medium-duty postal vehicles, so there aren’t a lot of niches left that EVs won’t serve.
And, engine availability won’t last for long if Hyundai has something to say about it. The company stopped selling cars without plugs on them starting 2020 – it would still sell plug-in hybrids, but no petrol-only vehicles. Now, it’s ending even PHEV sales, and transitioning to only fully electric cars.
We have great faith in our model portfolio, and now that we have launched the all-new IONIQ 6, the time has come to sell only all-electric cars in the Norwegian market. IONIQ 5 and KONA Electric have long since taken positions as some of the most popular cars in the market, and we are confident that our pure electric cars will bring us continued success into the future.
Thomas Rosvold, Managing Director, Hyundai Motor Norway
These plug-in hybrids represented 7% of Hyundai’s sales in 2022, and electric cars have consistently accounted for over 90% of Hyundai’s Norway sales in recent years.
So, leaving behind those last few percent of hybrids won’t make an enormous difference to the bottom line and will help the company focus its messaging, sales, and logistics around what is obviously making up the bulk of its sales in the nation.
According to Hyundai, its Ioniq 5 is the fifth best-selling car in Norway this year, and Hyundai is the brand that Norwegians most associate with electrification – at least, if you don’t count electric-only startups like Tesla, which just set an all-time Norwegian sales record with the Model Y.
This is the first market where Hyundai will sell only all-electric cars. Hyundai isn’t the first company to announce a similar move, but it’s one of few. Volvo made a similar announcement at the beginning of this year, stating that it would shift to only BEV and PHEV sales in Norway by 2023. VW says it will only sell BEV cars, with no plug-in hybrids, in Norway starting in 2024.
This puts Hyundai ahead of both of these companies in terms of commitment, either in scope or in timeline.
Electrek’s Take
This is the first traditional ICE manufacturer that we can think of that has stopped sales of all vehicles with an internal combustion engine in them. There are of course startups like Tesla and Rivian, and sub-brands like Polestar, but it’s quite a statement for an entire company to stop selling engines. If you can remind us of another (we don’t get every Norwegian press release), let us know in the comments.
Yes, it’s just in one sales territory, and the writing was on the wall anyway since it’s clear that BEVs have taken over the country, but leaving behind engines is still a big step for an auto manufacturer, especially considering that most automotive IP has been outsourced to suppliers and engines are one of the few car parts that manufacturers do themselves anymore.
But the main point that I like to highlight with Norway is that the country set and met its goals early. Despite having the earliest all-electric goal in the world, 2025, the country seems to be meeting it pretty handily. That’s why when other places set unambitious goals like 2035 (or even later), on the one hand I wonder why they couldn’t have set an earlier goal, but on the other hand, I remind myself that there is a reasonable chance those goals are met earlier than expected.
Incidentally, Norway’s current 80%+ BEV share is just about enough to meet California’s 2035 gas car ban, which will actually allow 20% of vehicles to be plug-in hybrids. It won’t allow any non-electrified vehicles, but considering Norway is already at 80% EV, hopefully California will be able to get there soon enough.
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Acura is bringing back the RSX, but you wouldn’t recognize it. It’s now a sporty electric SUV, and a fairly impressive one at that. It’s also the first electric vehicle built on Honda’s new Zero global EV platform.
Honda’s all-electric vehicle offering is quite limited – especially in North America.
It only sells the Prologue and Accura ZDX, which are based on GM’s Equinox EV. In Asia and Europe, the Japanese automaker has more electric models, but its efforts are still very much fragmented.
Now, it is preparing to launch a series of new EVs based on its in-house global EV platform: Zero.
Today, Acura is unveiling what should become the first vehicle on the platform: the Acura RSX concept.
This is still only a concept, but Acura says that it’s a good preview for the final vehicle that will go into production at Honda’s new EV hub in Ohio during the second half of 2026.
It will be built on the same production line as the Acura Integra, which can get a bit confusing since the name RSX was also used for the Integra in some markets during the original run in the 90s.
But the name is about the only thing that the current Integra and the RSX concept share. You won’t confuse the sporty sedan with this all-electric performance SUV.
Lance Woelfer, vice president of Auto Sales at American Honda Motor Co, commented on the new concept:
“The dramatic styling of our Acura RSX Prototype demonstrates that it’s not just a new EV, but a compelling all-new Acura model. RSX will deliver on nearly four decades of Acura Precision Crafted Performance brand DNA with appealing design and cutting-edge technology.”
Acura took advantage of the freedom given by the new EV platform it’s based on and delivered a vehicle with a sleek yet aggressive design.
Yasutake Tsuchida, Acura Creative Director and vice president of American Honda R&D, said that the design aimed at “excellent aerodynamic” performance:
“The Acura RSX has a sporty coupe style that expresses the performance that comes from excellent aerodynamics. Starting from this all-new RSX we will redefine the Acura brand around timeless beauty and a high-tech feel that is essential for a performance and unique brand.”
For now, the design is the primary information available about the Acura RSX, as the company hasn’t shared specifications yet. I am with Acura at the Monterey Car Week for the next few days, and I’ll do my best to gather more details.
In the meantime, we know that it will be equipped with a potent dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain, sport-tuned double wishbone front suspension, a low center-of-gravity and Brembo brakes, and Acura is talking about all this being standard in the new RSX.
Acura is also talking about having “the brand’s top-of-class driver assistive technologies.”
The RSX is also set to be the first vehicle equipped with Honda’s new ASIMO operating system.
Acura said about ASIMO:
With the ability to run various applications on the Acura RSX, similar to operating systems found on smartphones, ASIMO OS will offer a personalized experience that will enhance the joy of driving and the ownership experience. ASIMO OS will utilize OTA updates to bring new customizable features and services to the RSX to enhance the ownership experience.
It will also have machine learning capabilities, enabling it to learn about how you like to use your car and personalize to your specifications.
Last but not least, Acura has already confirmed that the RSX will be capable of bi-directional charging. The details are not available yet, but the automaker is talking about powering devices from the vehicle (V2X) and providing back power to your home (V2H).
The prototype is at Pebble Beach this week if you want to check it out. We certainly will, and we will report back with more.
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A new report claimed that Lucid Motors’ (LCID) new Gravity SUV had just nine registrations in its first six months. Lucid denied the rumors, telling us Gravity deliveries are “well into the 3-digit range.”
Lucid denies rumors of slow Gravity SUV sales
There’s no denying that the Gravity is an impressive electric SUV. It can drive up to 450 miles on a single charge and has more interior space than a Ford Explorer. With up to 828 hp, it’s also faster than most sports cars.
However, a new Automotive News report claimed the Gravity only managed to secure nine registrations in its first six months on the market, citing S&P Global Mobility data.
Nick Twork, Lucid’s head of communications, confirmed in an email to Electrek that the claim is “completely inaccurate.”
Twork added that “a quick review of social media postings from our customers shows that those numbers are simply not credible.” Although Lucid doesn’t provide a breakdown, Gravity deliveries are “well into the 3-digit range,” he said.
In the second half of the year, Lucid expects the Gravity SUV to account for the majority of production and deliveries.
The EV maker anticipates a significant ramp-up in production during the second half of the year. On the company’s second-quarter earnings call, interim CEO Marc Winterhoff said that after overcoming most of the supply chain issues, including the industry-wide magnet shortage, the company was “beginning to ramp up Lucid Gravity production.”
Winterhoff added that “our daily order rate has nearly doubled” since introducing Gravity models in its studios and offering test drives.
If it weren’t for Lucid’s quick actions, the company would have had to halt production in the second quarter. Instead, Lucid produced just over 6,000 vehicles in the second quarter.
During an interview with CNBC the following day, Lucid’s CEO stated that the company now has the raw materials, earth magnets, and licensing for the remainder of the year.
Lucid has reduced its production goal for 2025 from 20,000 to between 18,000 and 20,000 units. The company cited a changing market as the reason for the updated range.
The EV maker also scored a partnership with Uber and Nuro to launch 20,000 Gravity robotaxis over the next six years. Uber is investing $300 million into Lucid as part of the deal.
Meanwhile, Lucid’s Air remained the best-selling luxury electric sedan in the US. The Air outsold the Tesla Model S, Porsche Taycan, and even most gas models in its segment in the first half of 2025.
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Ford’s next “Model T” is a midsize electric pickup that will start at around $30,000. The new model will be the first of a family of affordable electric vehicles based on the new Ford Universal EV Platform. As Ford shifts to lower-cost EVs, a few popular SUVs you may recognize are getting axed.
Ford’s new $30,000 EV pickup will replace gas SUVs
At its Louisville, Kentucky, plant on Monday (see our recap of the event), Ford revealed plans to build a new midsize EV pickup, claiming it will have a lower cost of ownership than a Tesla Model Y.
It will also have more interior space, thanks to its new “Ford Universal EV Platform,” which was also unveiled during the event.
The platform will underpin a series of new affordable electric cars that Ford promises will compete with the best. Ford is set to begin production of the new midsize EV pickup in 2027 at the Louisville Assembly plant, meaning it will need to clear room.
Ford currently builds the Escape and Lincoln Corsair at the facility, both of which will be retired. The Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair will officially be discontinued after the 2026 model year.
The announcement came as a shock to some, as the Escape is Ford’s second-best-selling SUV, behind the Explorer. It even outsold the Bronco Sport in the first half of the year (82,589 vs 72,438).
The Corsair is the second-best-selling Lincoln brand model through June, behind the Nautilus, with 13,096 units sold.
Although production is slated to end later this year, Ford confirmed the SUVs will continue to be sold well into 2026.
Ford has invested around $5 billion in its Louisville Assembly Complex, creating nearly 4,000 jobs, as it prepares for its next generation of electric vehicles. It will begin with Ford’s new midsize EV pickup, which is expected to launch in 2027 with a starting price of around $30,000.
Source: Car and Driver, Ford
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