One in four cars sold in California last quarter were zero-emission vehicles, Newsom says

This marks nearly 10,000 more ZEVs sold than in the first quarter of the year and represents the second highest market share ever recorded.Photo byMichael FousertonUnsplash

In a significant milestone for California’s push towards zero-emission transportation, the second quarter of 2024 saw the sale of 118,181 zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), making up 25.7% of all new vehicle sales in the state. This marks nearly 10,000 more ZEVs sold than in the first quarter of the year and represents the second highest market share ever recorded.

Governor Gavin Newsom heralded the achievement, emphasizing the state's commitment to clean transportation. “California continues to prove the naysayers and skeptics wrong because our innovation is simply unmatched. Our policies helped lay the groundwork for our transition to clean cars – and now Californians are making the switch in record numbers. Clean cars are here, and they’re here to stay – thanks to California,” he stated.

The surge in ZEV sales underscores California’s dedication to zero-emission transportation, supported by unprecedented funding aimed at facilitating this transition. With electric vehicles becoming mainstream, the state is focused on deploying funds rapidly to meet growing demand and ensure an accessible, reliable, and convenient charging infrastructure.

Since Governor Newsom’s executive order in 2020, which set a goal for all new car sales to be zero-emission by 2035, the state has seen a dramatic rise in ZEV sales. According to the California Energy Commission, 25.7% of all new cars sold in the last quarter were ZEVs, with an average of 1,300 ZEVs sold each day. To date, California has achieved a total of 1,996,931 new ZEV sales.