Cal. Code Regs. tit. 13, § 1962.4
(a) Applicability.
(2) Additionally, subsection (i) includes requirements applicable to manufacturers of 2026 and subsequent model year:
(c) Annual ZEV Requirements
(1) Requirements for Intermediate and Large Volume Manufacturers.
(A) Calculating Annual ZEV Requirement. For a given model year's production of passenger cars and light duty trucks, manufacturers, other than small volume manufacturers, must comply with an Annual ZEV Requirement calculated according to this subsection (c). The Annual ZEV Requirement shall be calculated as:
Annual ZEV Requirement = Annual Percentage Requirement x Production Volume
Where:
Annual ZEV Requirement = manufacturer's ZEV production required, expressed in whole vehicles, for the applicable model year
Annual Percentage Requirement = the annual percentage requirement per subsection (c)(1)(B) for the applicable model year
Production Volume = manufacturer's production volume of passenger cars and light-duty trucks calculated in accordance with subsection (c)(1)(C), expressed in whole vehicles, for the applicable model year.
(B) Percentage Requirement. The table below identifies the percentage requirement to be used in the calculation of the Annual ZEV Requirement for the applicable model year.
Model Year
Percentage Requirement
2026
35%
2027
43%
2028
51%
2029
59%
2030
68%
2031
76%
2032
82%
2033
88%
2034
94%
2035 and subsequent
100%
(C) Calculating the Production Volume. The production volume is determined from the total number of passenger cars and light-duty trucks produced and delivered for sale in California that the manufacturer is required to report in the annual non-methane organic gases plus oxides of nitrogen (NMOG + NOx) production report for the applicable model year, and any medium-duty ZEVs produced and delivered for sale in California for which the manufacturer optionally chooses to certify to this section, as allowed by subsection (i)(7). For purposes of this calculation, a vehicle is counted in the production of the manufacturer that marketed it in California regardless of whether it is produced by a different manufacturer. For 2026 through 2034 model years, the production volume is determined according to the method described in subsection (c)(1)(C)1. unless the manufacturer elects to use the method described in subsection (c)(1)(C)2. For 2035 and subsequent model years, the production volume is determined according to the method described in subsection (c)(1)(C)2. for all manufacturers.
(2) Requirements for Small Volume Manufacturers.
(3) Changes in Manufacturer Volume Status in 2026 and Subsequent Model Years.
(d) Requirements for ZEVs. ZEVs must meet the following requirements:
(2) ZEV Durability Requirement for Useful Life.
(e) Additional Allowances to Count Toward Annual ZEV Requirement. Manufacturers may meet a portion of their Annual ZEV Requirement with PHEV values, environmental justice vehicle values, or early compliance vehicle values, earned according to subsections (e)(1)-(3).
(1) PHEV Flexibility. Manufacturers may fulfill a portion of their total Annual ZEV Requirement with PHEVs produced and delivered for sale in California as follows:
(A) For each 2026 model year and subsequent PHEV that meets all the following criteria, manufacturers may count such vehicles at a value of one towards the Annual ZEV Requirement:
(B) For each 2026 through 2028 model year PHEV that meets the criteria identified in section (e)(1)(A)1. through (e)(1)(A)6., with a minimum certification range value of less than 70 miles and greater than or equal to 43 miles, per the 2026 ZEV and PHEV Test Procedures, manufacturers may count such vehicles at a partial vehicle value comprised of the sum of the Partial Vehicle Value equation plus additional credit for US06 all-electric range, calculated as follows:
1. Partial Vehicle Value Equation:
)
Where:
Partial Vehicle Value = vehicle value per qualifying PHEV in units of vehicles, rounded to two significant digits and capped at a maximum of 0.85
Certification Range Value = As defined in subsection (l), in units of miles, rounded to the whole mile
(2) Environmental Justice Vehicle Values. Manufacturers may fulfill a portion of their total Annual ZEV Requirement with additional vehicle values earned according to the following provisions:
(A) New ZEVs and PHEVs Provided for Use in Community-based Clean Mobility Programs. New 2024 through 2031 model year ZEVs and PHEVs provided for use in community-based clean mobility programs in California will earn additional vehicle values that can be used to meet a portion of the manufacturer's Annual ZEV Requirement.
1. Vehicle Value.
3. Community-based Clean Mobility Programs.
a. Program Qualification. A community-based clean mobility program must be one of the following:
b. A manufacturer may request from the Executive Officer a determination that a program qualifies as a community-based clean mobility program. When making this request, the manufacturer shall provide:
III. Certification that the program meets the definition of “community-based clean mobility program” under this section.
f. Revocation. The Executive Officer shall revoke an Executive Order issued under this subsection if the Executive Officer determines that:
(B) Vehicles in California Sold At the End of Lease to Participating Dealerships. ZEVs or PHEVs initially leased in California and sold at the end of lease to a California dealership participating in a financial assistance program will earn additional vehicle values that can be used to meet a portion of the manufacturer's Annual ZEV Requirement.
(F) MSRP Consumer Price Index (CPI) Adjustment. New model year adjustments to the MSRP values used for subsections (e)(2)(B) and (e)(2)(C) shall be calculated by multiplying the MSRP values by a CPI adjustment (CPIadjustment) as follows:
MSRPn = MSRP2021 x CPIadjustment
where:
MSRPn is the adjusted value to be used in place of the MSRP value in subsections (e)(2)(B) and (e)(2)(C) for the applicable model year of the vehicle, rounded to the nearest ten dollars,
n is the model year of the vehicle,
n-2 is the calendar year two years prior to the model year of the vehicle,
MSRP2021 is the applicable MSRP value in subsections (e)(2)(B) or (e)(2)(C), and
CPIadjustment = CPIn-2 / 156.2
where:
CPIn-2 is the average of the January through December consumer price index for all urban consumers, for new vehicles, United States city average, not seasonally adjusted, published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
(3) Early Compliance Vehicle Values. Manufacturers may fulfill a portion of their total Annual ZEV Requirement with early compliance vehicle values earned according to the following provisions:
(A) Qualifying Vehicles.
4. For purposes of calculating vehicles eligible to earn early compliance vehicle values, only ZEVs and PHEVs meeting the following requirements shall be included:
(f) Calculating ZEV Requirement Performance for the Model Year. Each manufacturer shall calculate its ZEV requirement performance at the end of each model year.
(1) A manufacturer's ZEV requirement performance for a model year shall be the sum of:
(2) Determining Surplus or Shortfall. A manufacturer must calculate, for a given model year, the number of surplus or shortfall vehicle values it has generated according to the following equation rounded to the nearest whole vehicle value:
Surplus or Shortfall = ZEV Requirement Performance-Annual ZEV Requirement
Where:
Surplus or Shortfall = manufacturer's calculated surplus or shortfall, rounded to the nearest whole vehicle value, where a positive number results in surplus values and a negative number results in a shortfall of values;
ZEV requirement performance = manufacturer's calculated performance per subsection (f)(1); and
Annual ZEV Requirement = manufacturer's calculated requirement per subsection (b)(1)(A).
(3) In the case of manufacturers earning excess vehicle values, the following rules apply:
(4) Trades. The following provisions apply to trading vehicle values:
(A) A manufacturer may only trade excess ZEV, excess PHEV, excess environmental justice, early compliance, or converted ZEV and PHEV vehicle values and only if:
(g) Fulfilling a ZEV Requirement Shortfall.
(1) Limitations on fulfilling a ZEV requirement shortfall. A manufacturer who has a shortfall in a given model year, calculated according to subsection (f)(2), may use any combination of excess ZEV, PHEV, or environmental justice vehicle values, early compliance vehicle values, converted ZEV and PHEV values, pooled ZEV and PHEV values, or proportional FCEV values, to fulfill its shortfall, within the following limitations on usage:
(D) For the 2026 through 2030 model years, pooled ZEV and PHEV values, combined, may be utilized only up to the pooled allowance, calculated using the percentage in the table below for the applicable model year multiplied by the Annual ZEV Requirement. For the 2031 and subsequent model years, pooled PHEV and ZEV values may not be used to meet a manufacturer's shortfall or a deficit carried forward from a previous model year.
Pooled Vehicle Value Allowance By Model Year
Model Year
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
Percentage Allowance
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
(2) Calculating Converted ZEV and PHEV Values and Allowance.
(A) At the conclusion of model year 2025, a manufacturer's PHEV and ZEV credit account balances, earned according to CCR, title 13, section 1962.2, will undergo a one-time conversion according to the following equations:
)
Where:
Converted ZEV values = value of ZEV and range extended battery electric vehicle credit balances at the conclusion of 2025 model year, after conversion, rounded to the nearest whole number, in units of vehicle values
2025 MY ZEV Credit Balance = manufacturer's cumulative ZEV credit balance, at the conclusion of 2025 model year
Converted PHEV values = value of PHEV credit balances at the conclusion of the 2025 model year, after conversion, rounded to the nearest whole number, in units of vehicle values
2025 MY PHEV Credit Balance = manufacturer's cumulative PHEV credit balance, at the conclusion of the 2025 model year
(C) Cumulative Allowance. In lieu of utilizing the annual allowance for each model year from 2026 through 2030 as allowed under subsection (g)(2)(B) to meet a ZEV requirement shortfall, a manufacturer may use converted ZEV and PHEV values up to a cumulative allowance for the 2026 through 2030 model years that is calculated according to subsections (g)(2)(C)1. and 2. In each model year from 2026 through 2030, a manufacturer may use any amount of its eligible converted ZEV and PHEV values to meet a ZEV requirement shortfall as long as the cumulative quantity used for model years 2026 through 2030 is equal to or below the calculated cumulative allowance. A manufacturer electing to use the cumulative allowance must do so for all model years prior to and including 2030, must declare this election in its end-of-model-year report for the first model year subject to the Annual ZEV Requirements of this section, and may not use the annual allowance of subsection (g)(2)(B) for any model years.
2. For model years 2026 through 2028:
(4) Calculation of Proportional FCEV Allowance and Earning of Proportional FCEV Values.
(A) For each model year from 2026 through 2030, the “annual proportional FCEV allowance” shall be calculated for each manufacturer that produces and delivers FCEVs for sale in California or any Section 177 ZEV state as follows:
(B) For each model year from 2026 through 2030, manufacturers earn “proportional FCEV values” as follows:
(C) Manufacturers may fulfill a portion of their ZEV requirement shortfall each model year with proportional FCEV values according to the following provisions:
(h) Determining Compliance or Deficit with Annual ZEV Requirements.
(i) Certification Requirements. A manufacturer must submit an application to CARB to obtain certification for all new ZEVs and PHEVs.
(2) Application for Certification for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles. Except as noted below, the Part I certification application (40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 86.1843-01(c) incorporated per the 2026 ZEV and PHEV Test Procedures) for PHEVs shall also include the following:
(A) Identification and description of the test group and vehicle(s) covered by the application.
(B) A comprehensive list of all cycle specific and combined cycle emission, energy consumption, and range test results conducted pursuant to the 2026 ZEV and PHEV Test Procedures including:
(3) Application for Certification for Battery Electric Vehicles and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles. Except as noted below, the Part I certification application (40 CFR § 86.1843-01(c) incorporated per the 2026 ZEV and PHEV Test Procedures) for Battery Electric Vehicles and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles shall also include the following:
(C) Identification and description of all vehicles within the test group to be produced and delivered for sale to California. The description must be sufficiently detailed to determine for each vehicle all appropriate test parameters and any special test procedures necessary to conduct official exhaust emission, evaporative emission, energy consumption, or range tests as required by the 2026 ZEV and PHEV Test Procedures. The description shall include:
(D) A comprehensive list of all cycle specific and combined cycle energy consumption and range test results conducted pursuant to the 2026 ZEV and PHEV Test Procedures including:
(4) Supplemental Application for Certification for ZEVs and PHEVs. Except as noted below, the Part II certification application (40 CFR § 86.1843-01(d) incorporated per the 2026 ZEV and PHEV Test Procedures) for ZEVs and PHEVs shall include the following:
(5) Application for Certification for Neighborhood Electric Vehicles. Although NEVs may not be counted in determining the manufacturer's Annual ZEV Requirement in subsection (c) nor counted toward meeting a manufacturer's Annual ZEV Requirement in subsections (e) through (h) nor otherwise earn vehicle values under this section, certification applications for NEVs shall include the following information:
(7) Application for Certification for Zero-Emission Medium-Duty Vehicles. Each zero-emission medium-duty vehicle produced and delivered for sale in California for which the manufacturer elects to earn vehicle values that may be used to meet the passenger car and light-duty truck Annual ZEV Requirements of subsection (c) shall:
(j) ZEV Reporting and Record Keeping Requirements.
(1) Projected Sales of ZEVs and PHEVs for Future Model Years. Each manufacturer subject to the Annual ZEV Requirements of subsection (c) shall submit a projected ZEV and PHEV sales report by April 1 of each calendar year beginning with the 2026 calendar year. The report shall include the manufacturer's projected number of ZEVs and PHEVs to be produced and delivered for sale in California for the next model year not yet currently being produced and delivered for sale in California, plus each of the subsequent four model years. For example, a manufacturer producing and delivering 2026 model year ZEVs and PHEVs as of April 1, 2026 shall submit projected sales for 2027 through 2031 model years. For each model year covered by the report, the manufacturer shall support the projected number of ZEVs and PHEVs by submitting the following:
(2) ZEV Requirement Performance for the Model Year. In order to verify the status of each manufacturer's ZEV requirement performance for a given model year, each manufacturer shall submit a report to the Executive Officer annually, prior to May 1 of the calendar year following the close of the model year. The end-of-model-year report must contain the following information:
(C) Data for each individual ZEV and PHEV qualifying for additional environmental justice vehicle values of subsection (e)(2):
(3) End-of-Model-Year Report of Compliance or Deficit to the Annual ZEV Requirement. In order to verify the compliance or deficit status for a given model year, each manufacturer shall submit a report to the Executive Officer annually, prior to September 1 of the calendar year following the close of the model year. The report shall contain the following information:
(k) Disclosure of ZEV Records.
(1) Public Disclosure. Unless identified as a trade secret or otherwise confidential under CCR, title 17, section 91011, and supported as such under CCR, title 17, section 91022, records in the Board's possession for the vehicles subject to the requirements of section 1962.4, such as the following, are subject to disclosure as public records:
(B) Each manufacturer's annual balances for each model year for:
(l) Definitions. The definitions in the 2026 ZEV and PHEV Test Procedures, those in CCR, title 13, section 1900, and the following definitions apply to this section:
“Attestation” means a statement signed and dated by an individual, who is employed by a manufacturer and authorized to affirm the attested statement on behalf of the manufacturer, certifying under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the attested statement is true, accurate, and complete.
“Certification range value” means a BEV's or PHEV's calculated combined urban and highway all-electric range values, or a FCEV's calculated combined urban and highway driving range, measured and calculated in accordance with sections D. and E. of the 2026 ZEV and PHEV Test Procedure, and reported on the vehicle's CARB-issued Executive Order. The certification range value shall be calculated as follows:
Certification Range Value
= 0.55 x Urban All-Electric (or Driving for FCEV)Range Value
+ 0.45 x Highway All-Electric (or Driving for FCEV)Range Value
“Financial assistance program” means a vehicle purchase incentive program where approved dealerships accept a point-of-sale incentive for used ZEVs and PHEVs for lower-income consumers. Qualifying programs in California include the Clean Cars 4 All Program established by Health and Safety Code Section 44124.5, the Financing Assistance for Lower-Income Consumers Project established pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 44258.4, or successor State programs that meet this definition.
“Community-based clean mobility program” means a program that: 1) provides access to clean mobility solutions other than vehicle ownership including ZEV car sharing, ride-sharing, vanpools, ride-hailing, or on-demand first-mile/last-mile services; 2) serves a community in which at least 75 percent of the census tracts in the project area (where community residents live and services operate) are: a disadvantaged community, as defined in California by Health and Safety Code section 39711, a low-income community as defined in California by Health and Safety Code section 39713, or a tribal community regardless of federal recognition; and 3) is implemented by a community-based organization; Native American Tribal government regardless of federal recognition; or a public agency or nonprofit organization that has received a letter of support from a project-related community-based organization or local community group that represents community members that will be impacted by the project or has a service background related to the type of project.
“Excess values” means both vehicle values earned in excess of the allowance listed for the value type in subsection (e), and vehicle values in any category that comprise a surplus in a given model year per subsection (f)(2).
“Manufacturer's suggested retail price” (MSRP) means the base retail price of the vehicle suggested by the manufacturer.
“Neighborhood Electric Vehicle” (NEV) means a motor vehicle that meets the definition of “low-speed vehicle” either in section 385.5 of the Vehicle Code or in 49 CFR § 571.500 (July 1, 2000). NEVs do not qualify to count toward a manufacturer's Annual ZEV Requirement under this section 1962.4.
“Non-methane organic gases plus oxides of nitrogen (NMOG + NOx) production report” means the annual end-of-model-year report manufacturers submit to demonstrate compliance with CCR, title 13, section 1961.4 pursuant to Part I, section J.13 of the incorporated test procedures.
“Provided for use” means sold or leased to a community-based clean mobility program or to a mobility service provider that operates mobility services for a community-based clean mobility program.
“Rounded to the nearest whole vehicle value” means to increase the last digit to be retained when the following digit is five or greater. Retain the last digit as is when the following digit is four or less.
“Section 177 ZEV state” means a state or the District of Columbia that has adopted this section 1962.4 pursuant to section 177 of the federal Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. § 7507).
“Shortfall” means when a manufacturer's ZEV requirement performance, calculated per subsection (f), is below the applicable Annual ZEV Requirement, calculated per subsection (c)(1)(A).
“Surplus” means when a manufacturer's ZEV requirement performance, calculated per subsection (f), is above the applicable Annual ZEV Requirement, calculated per subsection (c)(1)(A).
(m) Enforcement of ZEV Requirements.
(2) Incorrect information. If the Executive Officer finds that any ZEV or PHEV value was obtained based on incorrect information, the value will be deemed invalid.
Note: Authority cited: Sections 38510, 38560, 38562, 38565, 38580, 39002, 39003, 39039, 39600, 39601, 39602.5, 43013, 43016, 43018, 43018.5, 43023, 43101, 43104, 43105, 43106, 43154, 43211, 43212 and 50093, Health and Safety Code; Sections 1633.7 and 1633, Civil Code; and 42 U.S.C, sections 7414, 7507. Reference: Sections 38562, 38562.5, 38565, 38580, 39002, 39003, 39039, 43013, 43016, 43018, 43018.5, 43023, 43100, 43101, 43102, 43104, 43105, 43106, 43154, 43205, 43211, 43212, 43205.5 and 44391.2, Health and Safety Code; Sections 1633.7 and 1633.8, Civil Code; and Engine Manufacturers Association v. State Air Resources Board (2014) 231 Cal.App.4th 1022.
1. New section filed 11-30-2022; operative 11-30-2022 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2022, No. 48).