{"id":987804,"date":"2026-08-08T00:07:22","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:07:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/987804\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:07:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:07:22","slug":"gavin-newsom-defends-gas-car-ban-opposed-by-majority-of-californians","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/987804\/","title":{"rendered":"Gavin Newsom defends gas car ban opposed by majority of Californians"},"content":{"rendered":"

Californians aren\u2019t on board<\/a> with Gov. Gavin Newsom\u2019s plan to ban the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035 \u2014 but the governor doubled down on the mandate Friday, suggesting that punishing gas prices in California could incentivize more residents to consider EVs.<\/p>\n

A recent poll revealed that nearly 66% of adults and likely voters oppose\u00a0Newsom\u2019s executive order<\/a>,\u00a0signed in 2020, that\u2019s intended to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035. <\/p>\n

Gavin Newsom defended his unpopular plan to phase out new gas vehicles by 2035. Anadolu via Getty Images<\/p>\n

The skepticism wasn\u2019t limited to conservatives, either: Half of all Democrats disapproved of the gas car ban in the poll, conducted from June 29 to July 6, as cash-strapped voters have increasingly soured on California\u2019s costly climate agenda<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it\u2019s a process that\u2019s unfolding, and \u2026 over the next decade, there\u2019ll be a lot of fits and starts, and I imagine a lot more people are interested in this space than they were a year ago,\u201d Newsom said in Oakland. <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the California Morning Report newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCalifornia’s top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

California has rolled out $3,500 rebates to first-time EV buyers. MARTIN DIVISEK\/EPA\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n

The governor unveiled new \u201cinstant rebates\u201d <\/a>for electric vehicles at a press conference in the East Bay city, offering first-time buyers $3,500 off a new vehicle or a $1,750 discount for a used car as the state tries again to incentivize sales of EVs. <\/p>\n

The discounts are funded by $135.5 million in state money alongside matching funds from participating automakers, which include Hyundai, Lucid, and Tesla.<\/p>\n

Making a splashy entrance in the front seat of a Ford EV, the governor presented an oversized $3,500 check to a California resident who said the funds would help him buy an EV and also took shots at President Donald Trump, who has sought to unwind the Golden State\u2019s climate goals. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhile Donald Trump is hellbent on burning more expensive fossil fuels and raising costs for Americans, California is proving there\u2019s a better way,\u201d Newsom said.<\/p>\n

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/strong><\/p>\n

California Post News<\/strong>: Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, WhatsApp<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a>
California Post Sports<\/strong> Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, X<\/a>
California Post <\/strong>Opinion<\/a>
California Post Newsletters<\/strong>: Sign up here!<\/a>
California Post App<\/strong>: Download here!<\/a>
Home delivery<\/strong>: Sign up here!<\/a>
<\/a>Page Six Hollywood<\/strong>: Sign up here!<\/a><\/p>\n

Gas prices have hovered near $6 per gallon since the start of the Iran war. Jonathan Alcorn for CA Post<\/p>\n

Newsom signed in 2020 a mandate to ban the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035, which Trump and Republicans in Congress have since attempted to undo by chipping away at various federal waivers<\/a> that make the policy possible. <\/p>\n

The governor and likely presidential candidate shrugged at the public disapproval of the gas car ban. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo more and more people, I imagine if you polled them today, they have a very different opinion than they did even a few months ago,\u201d Newsom said. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s good public policy,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

Newsom dismissed the unpopularity of his electrification mandate. Governor Gavin Newsom<\/p>\n

The state funding comes from California\u2019s smog abatement fees and cap-and-invest program, which sets limits on emissions and allows industries to purchase emission credits.<\/p>\n

The cap-and-invest program, formerly called cap-and-trade, generates roughly $7 billion to $8 billion annually, according to Net-Zero California, with proceeds used to fund climate projects. <\/p>\n

The program has been criticized for worsening California\u2019s highest-in-the-nation gas prices, however. <\/p>\n

Cap-and-invest added 23 cents to a typical $5.95 gallon of gas as of May 2026, according to the California Energy Commission<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ford, Rivian, Chevrolet and Kia are slated to join the rebate program this month, followed by Toyota, Lexus, Honda and Subaru in September and Mitsubishi in November.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nissan and Volvo are still determining when they will launch the program, according to the governor\u2019s office. <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t