California launches $3,500 MyFirstEV rebate for first‑time electric car buyers

Governor Gavin Newsom announced the MyFirstEV program, a state‑backed incentive that gives an up‑front $3,500 discount on new electric vehicles priced at $50,000 or less and $1,750 on used EVs priced at $25,000 or less. The rebate is limited to first‑time EV owners who certify they have not previously owned an electric vehicle. Funding comes from $135.5 million in the state budget, matched dollar‑for‑dollar by participating manufacturers for a total of about $271 million in incentives.

The California Air Resources Board listed participating automakers and rollout dates: Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, Lucid, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Rivian, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota and Volvo, with most joining between August and September 2026 and Mitsubishi in November. California‑headquartered EV makers Lucid and Rivian are exempt from the $50,000 price cap. Hydrogen fuel‑cell cars qualify, while plug‑in hybrids do not. Rebates are applied at the dealership without a separate application for many brands.

Newsom framed the program as a counter‑measure to the federal rollback of EV credits under President Donald Trump and as support for California’s 2035 zero‑emission vehicle mandate.