Newsom’s new budget wants to revive California rebate program for EVs

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s state budget proposal includes setting aside $200 million to revive California’s rebate program for the sale of electric vehicles, on the heels of the U.S. Congress and the Trump administration eliminating federal tax credits for EVs.

Details — including how much buyers would receive — still have to be worked out and the proposal would need to pass through the California Legislature before going into effect.

Among other items inside a 307-page summary given to lawmakers Friday, a day after Newsom delivered his annual State of the State address in Sacramento, the budget proposal said, “Incentives are a critical part” of the Newsom administration’s strategy to keep zero-emission vehicles “affordable and accessible for all.”

Ivan Drury, senior manager of auto insights at Edmunds.com, said a new rebate program will help boost sales.

“Anytime you can start putting more money behind selling something that’s very expensive and has a lot of barriers to entry that go bey...