California’s new $3,500 EV rebate favors Rivian and Lucid over Tesla
Complete. Here is the key summaryCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 168, establishing the 'MyFirstEV' program. This initiative offers a $3,500 instant point-of-sale rebate for first-time electric vehicle buyers, funded by $135.5 million in state money matched by automakers. A headquarters requirement favors California-based Rivian and Lucid, while Tesla only qualifies on its lowest-priced models.
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 168 today, creating a new “MyFirstEV” program that gives first-time electric vehicle buyers a $3,500 instant rebate at the dealership starting later this summer.
The point-of-sale discount is backed by $135.5 million in state funding, matched dollar-for-dollar by participating automakers — and a California-headquarters rule makes Rivian and Lucid the biggest winners, while Tesla qualifies only on its cheapest models.
How the $3,500 instant rebate works
Unlike the old application-based Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, MyFirstEV is an instant point-of-sale discount. Eligible buyers walk into a participating dealership and drive out with the money already off the price — no paperwork, no waiting for a check.
Here are the core rules of the program: