Mobility Barometer 2025

Growing resistance to electric cars – Sweden shows the sharpest shift

An increasing share of people say no to the idea of owning an electric car, with the sharpest rise in resistance seen in Sweden. Over the past four years, reluctance among Swedes has grown by more than 65 percent. Only one Nordic country is more positive toward electric cars today than four years ago.

High inflation, rising costs, and thinner wallets have made many households more cautious. But the tougher economy also appears to have shaped attitudes toward electric cars, which often carry a higher price tag than traditional vehicles.

For the fourth consecutive year, the share who say they cannot see themselves owning, renting or leasing an electric car has increased. One in three, 33 percent, now say no. The annual shifts since 2022 have been modest, but together they form a clear trend: four years ago, resistance was at a significantly lower level, at 27 percent.

Different paths in the Nordics

The strongest change is found in Sweden. Resistance has surged by nearly 67 percent: from less than one in five Swedes rejecting electric cars four years ago to nearly one in three today. Denmark and Finland also show increases, with Finland now having the highest share of skeptics at 45 percent.

But the Nordic region is far from uniform. Norway, which has been the world leader in electric vehicle adoption for several years, resistance remains low at 27 percent, a two-point decline since 2024.