California's Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate Is Driving Us to the Brink.
CARB: It's time to Pause and Calibrate.
The Reality of
California’s EV Mandates
California has made tremendous strides in clean transportation, leading the way with over 2 million EVs sold and 22% of new car sales now electric. But now, a state regulation is pushing unrealistic mandates—requiring automakers to accelerate the transition to zero emission vehicles, whether the market, infrastructure, and consumers are ready or not.
The Mandate
Starting this year, California’s ACC 2 regulation will require 35% of all new cars sold to be zero emission. That percentage increases each year until new gas-powered car sales are completely banned in 2035.
The Challenge
EV demand hasn’t just slowed—it’s flatlined.
EV sales growth has crashed to just 1% year-over-year, down from 40% growth seen in previous years. The numbers tell the story: consumer interest is stalling just as the state ramps up mandates.
Without adjustments to the current plan, California communities and businesses face significant uncertainty and hardship.
So what’s at Stake?
Mandates moving faster than consumers will drive up prices, shrink choices, and leave millions without reliable transportation. Fewer new car sales mean billions in lost tax revenue for emergency services, schools, and roads. And ironically, this rush could backfire—keeping older, higher-emission cars on the road even longer.