Overview
- Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 168 on Monday, July 13, 2026, creating the MyFirstEV instant rebate that applies at the dealership for first-time zero-emission vehicle buyers.
- The law directs $135.5 million from the 2026–27 state budget to the program and requires participating automakers to match that amount dollar for dollar to create roughly $270 million in point-of-sale savings.
- Eligible buyers receive $3,500 off new EVs with an MSRP cap of $50,000 and $1,750 off used EVs priced up to $25,000, with a curb-weight limit that restricts the program to light-duty passenger vehicles.
- A carve-out waives the $50,000 cap for companies headquartered in California, a design that benefits firms such as Rivian and Lucid while excluding higher-priced models from automakers that relocated their headquarters out of state.
- The California Air Resources Board must finish agreements with automakers and dealers before the program can launch later this summer and Rivian has publicly confirmed it will participate.