California Regulators Mandate Complete Phase-Out of New Gas Cars by 2035
California air regulators approve a historic rule banning the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035, setting strict interim quotas for zero-emission car sales. The groundbreaking mandate is expected to trigger similar bans in numerous other states across the country.
California air regulators vote to approve a historic rule that bans the sale of new gasoline cars by 2035. The mandate introduces strict interim quotas that require 35% of new cars, SUVs, and small pickups sold in the state to be zero-emission vehicles starting with 2026 models. These requirements steadily increase to 51% in 2028, 68% in 2030, and ultimately reach 100% by 2035, though up to 20% of these zero-emission sales are allowed to be plug-in hybrids.
The new regulation does not impact used vehicles, meaning gas-powered cars already on the road remain legal to own and sell. Because California represents such a massive portion of the US auto market, this decision carries major implications for the entire country's automotive industry. Officials consider this action to be the most significant move by the California Air Resources Board in the last three decades.
Multiple states are already preparing to follow California's lead with similar bans. At least 15 states previously adopted California's past zero-emission vehicle rules, and officials from New York, Oregon, Washington, and Rhode Island confirm they plan to implement this new 2035 ban through their own regulatory processes. Additional states like New Jersey and Maryland are currently reviewing the decision as the policy promises to reshape the national transition to electric vehicles.