The surge comes amid the expiration of federal tax credits at the end of September, which had offered up to $7,500 for qualifying buyers
California recorded its highest-ever quarterly share of zero-emission vehicle sales in the third quarter of 2025, with ZEVs accounting for 29.1% of new car purchases, state officials reported.
The figure translates to 124,755 ZEVs sold from July through September, up from the previous record of 26.9% set in the third quarter of 2023. Of those, 108,685 were battery-electric vehicles, marking a nearly 30% increase from the second quarter of 2025. Cumulative ZEV sales in the state now stand at 2,468,158 since tracking began.
The surge comes amid the expiration of federal tax credits at the end of September, which had offered up to $7,500 for qualifying buyers. State data shows 146 ZEV models were available in the first quarter of 2025, compared with 105 a year earlier.
Gov. Gavin Newsom highlighted the numbers during a news conference, noting they align with recent state gains in clean energy capacity. California added more than 30,000 megawatts of clean energy and storage since 2019, while phasing out coal-fired power.
“This is unprecedented — we’re nearing a third of all new vehicles sold in the fourth largest economy on the planet being clean cars,” Newsom said. He contrasted the state’s progress with federal policies under President Donald Trump, which he said aim to undermine ZEV incentives.
Separately, clean truck sales in 2024 reached nearly 25% of the market for trucks, buses and vans, meeting a state target two years early, officials said.
Nancy Skinner, chair of the California Energy Commission, attributed the growth to expanded charging infrastructure. Nearly every resident now lives within 10 minutes of a fast charger, she said. The commission oversees investments that have boosted public access to over 200,000 charging stations statewide, including sites at grocery stores, workplaces and multifamily housing.
