California reported record sales of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in the third quarter of 2025, with nearly one-third of all new vehicles sold in the state being clean cars. Governor Gavin Newsom commented on this achievement, stating, “This is unprecedented – we’re nearing a third of all new vehicles sold in the fourth largest economy on the planet being clean cars. We’re setting new records because this state believes in innovation, not isolation. While Trump sells out American innovation to China, California will keep charging ahead on our path to a future of cleaner air.”
California Energy Commissioner Nancy Skinner highlighted progress made in ZEV adoption and infrastructure: “This is a defining moment for California’s ZEV progress and sends a clear message to Washington: ZEVs are here to stay. The work and investments by the California Energy Commission (CEC), and its agency and industry partners, to expand the state’s network of EV chargers has resulted in nearly every Californian living within 10 minutes of an EV fast charger. Now, new EV owners can enjoy a great driving experience bidding goodbye to smelly gas stations, messy oil changes, and costly engine tune-ups.”
Lauren Sanchez, Chair of the California Air Resources Board, addressed federal policy concerns while emphasizing California’s leadership: “While the federal government stumbles backward with reckless rollbacks and short-sighted policies, California charges ahead lighting the path to a cleaner, more prosperous future. From pioneering clean transportation in the 1970s to becoming the world’s 4th largest economy today, we’ve proven time and again that protecting air quality and the climate isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s smart economic policy.”
The diversity of ZEV models available in California has increased from 105 models in Q1 last year to 146 models in Q1 this year. In Q3 alone, Californians purchased 124,755 ZEVs—including 108,685 electric vehicles (EVs)—marking an almost 30% increase over Q2 sales figures.
On October 8th, California became the first U.S. state to adopt regulations focused on reliability and reporting for EV chargers funded by public money. These rules aim both to improve charger reliability across publicly funded stations statewide and ensure accurate data reporting about their operation.
At its October business meeting—the same day these regulations were adopted—the CEC approved two projects under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program intended to build out 64 fast chargers along major highway corridors. The commission also agreed on grants for repairing or installing fast chargers at several sites; specifically: two agreements will repair 30 non-operational public chargers while adding another 30 at those locations; three additional grants totaling more than $10 million will fund installation of over 1,000 Level 2 charging ports—primarily targeting low-income or disadvantaged multifamily housing complexes throughout California.
To support lower-income residents’ access to clean transportation options like ZEVs further incentives are available via grant programs detailed at ClimateAction.ca.gov or ElectricForAll.org.
Currently there are more than 200,000 publicly accessible EV charging stations located throughout grocery stores parking lots gas stations workplaces apartments sports facilities doctors’ offices—and other venues across California—helping make owning an electric vehicle easier for drivers statewide. Additionally approximately 800,000 home-based EV chargers have been installed at single-family residences.
