Overview
- Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the MyFirstEV law on July 13, creating point-of-sale rebates of $3,500 for first-time buyers of qualifying new zero-emission vehicles and $1,750 for qualifying used EVs.
- The program is funded at about $270 million with roughly $135 million from the state budget matched dollar-for-dollar by participating automakers, and the new-vehicle rebate is structured as $1,750 from a maker plus $1,750 in state matching funds.
- Thirteen automakers have publicly committed to join, including Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Toyota, Tesla, Volvo, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Rivian and Lucid, while several brands that sell sub-$50,000 EVs did not join the program.
- California Air Resources Board must finalize enrollment rules, dealer agreements and brand contracts before the program launches later this summer, and officials warn that equal splits of funds across brands and unclear used-vehicle mechanics could cause rapid depletion or market distortions.
- The state designed MyFirstEV to plug the gap left by the federal credit’s 2025 end to protect jobs and production, but consumers should expect uneven availability at dealerships and act quickly once CARB opens the rebates because funds may run out fast.