The Pre-New Year Gold Rush
Norway has long been the global poster child for electric vehicle adoption, but the game changed on January 1, 2026. Fearing a looming $5,000 price jump due to new VAT regulations, Norwegian buyers flooded showrooms in the final months of 2025.
Tesla was the undisputed winner of this rush. In November alone, the company registered over 6,200 vehicles in Norway—a figure that nearly matches an entire year’s worth of sales in neighboring Sweden. Dominating nearly a third of the market, Tesla set international benchmarks. However, the celebration was short-lived; as soon as the tax kicked in at midnight on New Year's Eve, sales came to a grinding halt.
The Countermove: A $5,000 "Tesla Bonus"
To reignite demand and clear the "tax hurdle," Tesla has launched an aggressive campaign dubbed the "Tesla Bonus." The strategy is simple: by slashing prices by up to 50,000 NOK ($5,000), Tesla is effectively neutralizing the government’s tax hike for the consumer. For many of the most popular configurations, this means the out-of-pocket cost for buyers has returned to 2025 levels.
Which Models Get the Discount?
The price cut applies to eight different model variants, specifically targeting the heart of the market:
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Model Y: Every version of the best-selling SUV is eligible for the bonus.
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Model 3: Most variants are included, with the exception of the base entry-level model.
Low Interest Rates and Tight Deadlines
It isn’t just the sticker price that’s dropping. To sweeten the deal, Tesla is offering special promotional interest rates for the first three years of financing.
However, there is a catch for those looking to cash in on the savings:
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Orders must be placed between January 9 and March 31, 2026.
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Vehicles must be delivered no later than March 31.
Background: Why Norway’s Prices Skyrocketed
The volatility stems from a major tax reform that went live on January 1, 2026. For an average EV priced around $50,000, the new VAT added an immediate $5,000 to the bill overnight.
Since the majority of new EVs in Norway fall above the previous tax-exempt threshold, the entire industry has felt the sting. Tesla’s rapid response signals that the EV giant is willing to sacrifice margins to maintain its iron grip on the world's most mature electric car market.
