California Mandates Full Transition to Electric Vehicle Sales by 2035
California regulators officially require all new car sales to be zero-emission by 2035, with gradual targets starting in 2026. The landmark rule allows plug-in hybrids and does not restrict used gas cars or existing drivers.
The California Air Resources Board votes to phase out new gasoline-powered car sales by 2035, requiring most new vehicles to run on electricity or hydrogen. This binding decision stems from a 2020 executive order by Governor Gavin Newsom aimed at fighting climate change. The rule sets gradual milestones, demanding that zero-emission vehicles account for 35% of new car sales by 2026 and 68% by 2030.
Despite leading the United States in electric vehicle adoption, California currently sees battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models making up only 12.4% of new car sales as of 2021. The regulation includes an exception for plug-in hybrids, allowing them to comprise up to 20% of new sales even after 2035. Automakers show mixed responses, with companies like GM and Volvo pledging to go fully electric while others like Toyota focus heavily on hybrids and hydrogen fuel cells.
This policy does not actually ban gas-powered cars from the roads or prevent the sale of used combustion vehicles. Drivers simply keep their existing internal combustion vehicles until the end of their lifespans. Furthermore, 16 other states and Washington, D.C. historically follow California's stricter emissions standards, meaning this landmark ruling potentially triggers a massive shift across the broader American automotive market.