OAKLAND — Governor Gavin Newsom announced the launch of California’s MyFirstEV program, offering instant rebates to residents purchasing or leasing their first zero-emission vehicle. The discount is applied at the point of sale, with no separate rebate application or waiting period.

Eligible Californians can receive:

$3,500 off a new zero-emission vehicle with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of up to $50,000.
$1,750 off a used zero-emission vehicle priced at up to $25,000 through a participating manufacturer’s certified pre-owned program.

Hyundai, Lucid and Tesla are currently offering the rebates. Ford, Rivian, Chevrolet and Kia are expected to join in August, followed by Toyota, Lexus, Honda and Subaru in September and Mitsubishi in November. Nissan and Volvo have not yet announced launch dates.

California is investing $135.5 million in the program, with participating automakers providing matching funds. Together, the state and manufacturers will offer $271 million in point-of-sale savings. Interested buyers should contact participating automakers for eligibility, vehicle and enrollment information.

Governor Newsom also announced that California’s grid-connected battery storage capacity has surpassed 21,000 megawatts, the largest of any state. The batteries store excess solar power during the day and release it during evening demand, reducing reliance on natural gas. The system has enough capacity to power approximately 15.75 million California homes for about four hours.

Transportation accounts for about 60% of California’s smog-forming pollution and 40% of its greenhouse gas emissions. State officials say expanding access to zero-emission vehicles can improve air quality while reducing fuel and maintenance costs for drivers.