Despite demand for EVs falling across the country, Teslas still appear to be popular in California as Elon Musk’s car company burned through its entire share of a new state rebate for first-time EV buyers in just five days. California’s new MyFirstEV program began rolling out earlier this month, allowing Californians buying or leasing their first zero-emission vehicle to save a few thousand dollars on a new or used EV. The program is a clear response to President Donald Trump eliminating federal EV subsidies last year. The $7,500 federal tax credit expired last September, dealing a major blow to an industry already struggling with wider adoption in the United States. Ford CEO Jim Farley warned at the time that the policy shift could cut demand for EVs in half. The slowdown, along with the Trump administration’s rollback of emissions regulations, has prompted several automakers to rethink their EV strategies and cancel plans for new EV models, resulting in even fewer options for consumers.
“Donald Trump is doing everything in his power to pollute our air and surrender the clean car industry to China on a silver platter,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom in a press release announcing the program. “With our new instant rebate program for electric vehicles, we’re making it easier for families to drive clean, breathe clean, and keep more money in their pockets.”
