California governor Gavin Newsom has introduced a new statewide incentive programme to encourage the purchase of electric cars – and not just new ones, secondhand EVs are covered here too.

The money isn’t available to everyone though – the new scheme is just for first-time EV buyers only, and it’s cleverly called MyFirstEV (something tells me they don’t have the Early Learning Centre in the US). 

Californians getting their first electric car will enjoy $3,500 off new electric cars with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of up to $50,000 and $1,750 off a used car up to $25,000 that’s available through a manufacturer’s approved used scheme. 

The discount does count whether you’re buying or leasing, but it’s only available through a selection of carmakers because they’re all committed to matching the $135m that the Californian state is putting forward for the discount. 

The manufacturers going halfsies on the MyFirstEV scheme are Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Lucid, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Rivian, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota and Volvo. 

Doesn’t really sound far that not only can Californian buyers get a Lucid or a Rivian, they can also buy one with a state-sponsored discount. Used, of course, neither carmaker sells anything below $50k. And they’ve got all those nice beaches over there.  

And of course anyone looking for a Honda in California will only be able to shop in the used section because the Japanese carmaker just axed its last EV on sale in the US. 

Otherwise it’s all very exciting, and as the statement from the governor’s office says, “California is proving that a state can lead on affordability and clean air even as the Trump administration walks away from both”.