Overview
- A Public Policy Institute of California survey found nearly 66% of adults and likely voters now oppose Gov. Gavin Newsom’s 2020 executive order to ban sales of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035.
- Opposition has grown since 2021 across party lines, with the share of Democrats who oppose the ban roughly doubling and independents showing a large increase.
- Poll directors and commentators point to affordability as the main driver, citing spiking utility bills, the loss of federal EV tax credits, and a drop in people seriously considering an EV from about half five years ago to roughly one third now.
- In response, Newsom signed legislation creating a $270 million rebate program that offers $3,500 for qualifying new EVs priced $50,000 or less and $1,750 for qualifying used EVs priced $25,000 or below.
- Coverage differs on what comes next: some outlets stress the public backlash and cost concerns while others note the state’s ongoing legal and policy fight over the mandate and that California still has more than 1.25 million registered EVs and EVs made up about one in five new car sales last year.