California Senate blocks Democratic bill to ban gas-powered cars in the West Coast state.
Trump’s battle against EVs escalates as California law gets blocked
Donald Trump’s stance on electric vehicles has never been a secret. While he once posed with a Tesla at the White House, his administration continues to favor traditional combustion engines. This political divide became clear once again when a California law aimed at eliminating gas-powered cars was blocked by the Republican-controlled Senate, dealing a setback to the state’s electrification goals.
Trump electric cars california law: a targeted reversal
The law, originally introduced by a Democratic senator, aimed to accelerate the phase-out of gasoline vehicles in California, encouraging a faster transition to electric mobility. However, the GOP-majority Senate repealed a federal waiver that allowed California to set stricter emissions standards than the national level. The move is widely seen as a direct attack on President Biden’s climate agenda.
Trump’s political favor to the fossil fuel and auto industries
California Governor Gavin Newsom responded sharply, vowing to challenge the Trump administration in court. “This is a great day for big oil, a great day for GM and Toyota, a great day for China,” said Newsom, “but a terrible day for your kids, for air quality, for innovation, and for entrepreneurship.”
EV market share rising despite political opposition
In 2024, electric vehicle sales in the U.S. reached 1.7 million units, a 21% increase from the 1.4 million sold in 2023. EVs accounted for 10.2% of global new car registrations that year. The momentum continued into Q1 2025, with nearly 300,000 EVs sold—up 11.4% from the same period in 2024. But this growth worries Trump’s administration, which favors fossil fuel interests.
Despite a 0.25% increase in total gasoline consumption in 2024, overall demand in the U.S. is still 3.9% below its 2018 peak. On a per capita basis, gasoline consumption has dropped by 16% over the past 20 years.
California remains key battleground in EV adoption
Blocking the bill in California carries symbolic weight. The Golden State is the largest auto market in the U.S., historically dominated by gas-powered vehicles. However, since 2016, sales of combustion engine vehicles—including hybrids and plug-ins—have fallen by 30%. In contrast, EVs captured 21.4% of the state’s auto market in 2023.
This shift toward electrification and declining gasoline demand is unsettling for the Republican administration, which acted swiftly to block California’s proposed gas car ban.
