California has launched a new financial incentive program to support electric vehicle adoption, as I covered previously. The idea was to increase EV adoption again after it dropped from the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress ending the federal EV tax credit prematurely. The program has officially launched, and we now have more details. First of all, it’s a $135.5 million incentive program for now. The incentives are available for people who have not previously bought an EV. The program goes through auto dealers to try to make it easier and smoother to administer, and to try to make sure no one misses out who qualifies (or as few as possible miss out*). “The program reduces upfront ZEV costs by partnering with automakers through grant agreements to ‘buy down’ the sticker price, with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) matching the state’s contribution. Incentives will be offered at the point of sale for first‑time buyers or lessees of new or used ZEVs, providing a combined $3,500 for new vehicles ($1,750 each from the state and participating OEMs) and $1,750 for used vehicles ($875 each),” CARB writes. Notably, except for California-based manufacturers, there’s a cap on the vehicle price that qualifies. “The program has a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) cap of $50,000 for new light duty passenger vehicles and a sales price cap of $25,000 for used vehicles to keep incentives focused on affordable options.” One update we now have is the list of auto manufacturers participating. “In order to participate, manufacturers were required to commit to the MyFirstEV program by June 30, 2026, and have an eligible vehicle ready by September 2026. Participating manufacturers eligible new vehicles must be model year 2026 or newer, and eligible used vehicles must be at least two model years older at the time of sale,” CARB adds. With that said, on to the list: Chevrolet — launching August 2026 Ford — launching August 2026 Honda — launching September 2026 Hyundai — launching August 2026 Kia — launching August 2026 Lexus — launching September 2026 Lucid — launching August 2026 Mitsubishi — launching November 2026 Nissan — coming soon Rivian — coming soon Subaru — launching September 2026 Tesla — launching August 2026 Toyota — launching September 2026 Volvo — coming soon So, that’s the list. *However, there are also some important caveats to keep in mind: “MyFirstEV launch and availability will vary by manufacturer and dealership. Vehicles ordered or purchased before a participating manufacturer has made the incentive available will not receive the incentive.” So, be sure to check on this before buying a car!
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