CALIFORNIA OFFERS $3,500 REBATE FOR FIRST-TIME EV BUYERS

California has introduced the MyFirstEV programme, which provides up to $3,500 in instant rebates for first-time electric vehicle buyers, according to reporting on Governor Gavin Newsom's initiative. The programme forms part of a $600 million state investment in clean transportation and will commence later this summer. A separate $1,750 rebate is available for used electric vehicles priced under $25,000. The rebate is applied at the point of purchase through participating dealerships, requiring no additional paperwork or claims process.

The $270 million fund supporting the rebate programme is divided equally between California's state budget and participating automakers. Eligible vehicles must be zero-emission models—full battery electric cars only, excluding hybrid vehicles. New vehicles must have a manufacturer's suggested retail price below $50,000 to qualify for the full $3,500 rebate. The programme is restricted to first-time EV buyers. Popular models including the Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ford Mustang Mach-E fall within eligible price ranges, whilst Rivian's R2, with a starting price of $45,000, will qualify when it launches next year.

The broader $600 million clean transportation investment allocates $150 million to the Community Air Protection Programme, $135.5 million to the Clean Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project, and $130 million to replace vehicles with polluting heavy-duty engines. The state has also committed to expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure in rural areas. The initiative follows the federal government's discontinuation of the national EV tax rebate in the previous year.