Data from the Californian New Car Dealer Association (CNCDA) unveil that sales of electric cars have boomed by a staggering 62% last year in the county. This has led to a market share of 17% in the Sunshine State. However, the biggest winner is Tesla, which exploits a plant in Freemont locally.

The growth of BEV models is substantial in California. With 285 199 vehicles sold, their number has almost doubled in a year-to-year comparison. However, as the overall market declined (-7,9%), most brands were in the red.

A few made progress, most notably Kia (+2,4%), Mercedes (+3,4%), Cadillac (+3,7%), and Genesis (+26,5%). But Tesla jumped the highest, reporting an increase of +54,2%.

That the electric share is booming is attributed to Musk’s company’s structurally rising output and the availability of zero-emission pickups, still a popular body type in the US.

Largest investment ever

“California continues to lead the zero-emission vehicle revolution with groundbreaking policies and investments that drive innovation, create good jobs, and expand ZEV access and affordability across the state,” commented Governor Gavin Newsom.

In January, the State of California commissioned an investment plan of $2,9 billion to accelerate charging infrastructure and hydrogen refueling stations. It’s the most significant investment in zero-emission technology the local authorities have ever made.

Compared to European standards, California equals the share in Germany (17,7% in 2022), but in trailblazing countries like the Netherlands, or Norway, the figures have already hit 24% and more than 80%, respectively.

In the US, California leads by example. Based on the latest data available (June 2022 from the Alternative Fuels Data Center), the state accounted for 39% of nationwide BEV registrations.

Florida comes in second place, with five times fewer BEVs than California, and in third place is Texas, almost equalling the numbers of Florida. Though Texas is an oil-rich state, it is also where Tesla holds its headquarters.

Back to the level of 2011

In a logical counteraction, sales of cars with combustion engines are plummeting in California. With 1,38 million ICE vehicles sold last year, the drop was 18%, reaching its lowest level in a decade, sinking the numbers to 2011.

However, that year, registrations were hampered by the outcome of the financial crisis, which had pushed several American carmakers to the brink of bankruptcy. This time, the statistics show a change of heart, so a rebound seems unlikely.

Bye bye Camry

The surge in EV registrations also meddles with the top spots in the sales charts. While the Toyota Camry still was the number one selling model in California in 2021, the Tesla Model Y has become the big favorite, leapfrogging over the Japanese sedan from second place.

The silver medal was awarded to the Tesla Model 3 and the bronze to the Toyota RAV-4, with the Camry landing in fifth place. Traditionally, Toyota and Honda have been the top sellers in the region, already since the nineties, but those days seem counted.

Though Tesla has moved away its administration from California, it remains the only brand with a manufacturing site in the state. However, with Japanese carmakers losing ground and the exponential growth of EV registrations confirmed, 2022 is a watershed moment for the regional car market’s energy shift.