The electric vehicle (EV) advocacy group American EV Jobs Alliance praised California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California legislature for including a first-time electric vehicle buyer incentive program as part of the state’s budget.
The program establishes a new point-of-sale incentive for first-time EV buyers and provides automakers with grant agreements, who must match the $135 million in state incentive dollar-for-dollar.
“Governor Newsom and the California Legislature have stepped up to support California as America’s clear EV leader. $135 million for first-time EV buyers, matched dollar-for-dollar by automakers, adds up to more than $270 million in welcome help for new EV buyers,” Mike Murphy, CEO of the American EV Jobs Alliance said. “This legislation will fund a $3,500 cash-on-the-hood credit for tens of thousands of first-time EV buyers in the Golden State. Now CARB can sign the grant agreements with automakers and get the dollars moving, so drivers start saving soon!”
The Alliance helped to design the program and build support to fund it, making the case to the Governor’s office, the legislature, the California Air Resource Board (CARB), and the California Energy Commission. In the final stretch of budget negotiations, the Alliance also launched its statewide CA EV Jobs campaign that urged lawmakers to fund the program.
The legislation affirms California’s position as a leader in electric vehicles, and several automakers – Ford, Lucid, Honda, Rivian, GM, Hyundai, Tesla, Kia, Toyota and many others – design, engineer and build cars in the state. The dollar-for-dollar automaker match is among the first of its kind in the country, with advocates saying it stretches public dollars and invites the EV industry to invest alongside the state.
With the agreement reached, CARB now moves to sign the grant agreement with participating automakers and get incentive dollars to dealerships.