California’s MyFirstEV: Instant $3,500 rebates boost Rivian and Lucid, sidelining Tesla
California’s SB 168 creates the MyFirstEV program, offering a $3,500 instant dealer discount for first-time EV buyers starting later this summer, backed by $135.5 million in state funds that are matched by automakers for roughly $270 million in total at the point of sale. The program uses a $50,000 price cap, but waives it for California-headquartered EV makers, effectively benefiting Rivian and Lucid; Tesla is only eligible for its sub-$50k configurations since it no longer has California HQ. This instant rebate is part of a broader $600 million zero-emission vehicle package, with CARB still finalizing details and the program launching soon to boost EV adoption after the federal tax credit ended.