California moves to end sales of gas-powered cars by 2035

California, home to more than 30 million registered vehicles, would be the first state to establish a 100-percent zero-emissions mandate on vehicles by 2035. The California New Car Dealers Association, a trade group, expects more than 1.6 million new passenger vehicles will be sold in the state this year.

"This is a giant step forward and continues California’s global leadership in transportation electrification, a key strategy to achieving the state’s ambitious climate goals," said Anne Smart, vice president of public policy for ChargePoint, a California-besed electric-vehicle charging network. "We believe this will also support job growth in the vehicle fleet and infrastructure industries."

Newsom agreed, saying, "this is the next global industry, and California wants to dominate it."

Wide standard

Thirteen states and the District of Columbia followed California’s lead in setting stricter standards, meaning the California rules by some estimates cover more than 40 percent of America’s population.

In 2019, the Trump administration attempted to revoke California’s prerogative to set its standards, known as a “waiver” under the Clean Air Act. That move prompted a lawsuit against the EPA in November from California and 22 other states, demanding a federal court block the agency from revoking its long-standing authority. That case is pending before the  U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.