OSLO -- Norway denied a media report that the country planned to outlaw the sale of all gasoline and diesel engine cars starting 2025.
German news agency DPA reported that Norway's National Transport Plan included plans for the ban. The plan is presented by the government every four years to outline transport strategies and policy goals.
A Norwegian transport ministry spokesman said the country had no such plans. "This government wants to encourage more environmentally friendly vehicles by using the carrot instead of stick," the spokesman said on Tuesday.
The spokesman said new technology would lead to a phasing-out of fossil-fueled cars in the long term without the need for outright bans.
Norway aims to reduce average CO2 emissions from new cars to 85 grams per km by 2020.
"This document included suggestions and recommendations for ambitious goals to reduce emissions from the transport sector," the spokesman said, referring to the latest plan, which was presented in February. The document included no suggestions of a ban, the spokesman said.