Sacramento: California has achieved a significant milestone by selling more than 2.5 million zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), as state officials announced. This accomplishment marks a crucial step toward reducing transportation-related pollution in the state.

According to Namibia Press Agency, California recorded 79,066 new ZEV sales in the fourth quarter of 2025, which accounted for 18.9 percent of all new car sales. The ZEV category includes battery electric, plug-in hybrid, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles that emit no tailpipe emissions.

Since 2019, cumulative ZEV sales have surged by over 300 percent, driven by supportive state policies, incentives, and a network of more than 200,000 public and private charging stations. Transportation is responsible for more than half of California's greenhouse gas emissions and 28 percent of total U.S. emissions, while globally, transport contributes to roughly 16 percent of greenhouse gases.

Energy Commissioner Nancy Skinner stated, "Thanks to historic state investment and strong consumer demand, Californians are driving clean cars at record levels." The achievement coincides with the implementation of Advanced Clean Cars II, which mandates that by 2035, 100 percent of new passenger vehicle sales in California must be zero-emission, aiming to cut vehicle greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2040.

Despite the cessation of federal EV tax credits in September 2025, California maintained a nearly 19 percent market share, while nationwide ZEV sales dropped to 5.8 percent. To sustain this growth, Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed a state incentive program worth 200 million U.S. dollars. Air Resources Board Chair Lauren Sanchez noted, "California isn't slowing down, we're still leading the pack."