Governor Newsom Promises to Reinstate California's EV Credits if President Trump Ends National Version

­The election and subsequent inauguration of a new president can have a profound impact on EV policy – especially with a returning Chief Executive who promises to “end the electric vehicle mandate on day one.” And the governor of the world’s 5^th-largest economy – The Golden State – is promising to counteract any possible tinkering with the EV tax credit.

On the campaign trail, President Trump claimed that EVs “don’t work” and vowed to end the EV mandate – he’d “rescind all unspent funds” in the Inflation Reduction Act (including the Biden Administration’s EV efforts).

This would likely involve killing the $7,500 tax credit for new EV purchases, and according to The Verge, even possibly incentives for battery factories and mining. According to Trump, all of these EV enticements mainly benefit China and Mexico at the expense of American autoworkers.

Either way, if the Trump Administration does dismantle existing EV incentives and credits, California’s Governor Gavin Newsom swore to revive their Clean Vehicle Program, which would offer $1,000 to $7,500 for purchasing certain zero-emission vehicles.

“We will intervene if the Trump Administration eliminates the federal tax credit, doubling down on our commitment to clean air and green jobs in California,” Newsom said. “We’re not turning back on a clean transportation future — we’re going to make it more affordable for people to drive vehicles that don’t pollute.”

And while it’s “just” one state, California’s enormous economy could (once again) have an outsized influence on the country’s and world’s EV policy.