The state is the largest auto market in the US, one that buys almost twice as many new cars as Australia each year.
Several other states have a history of following California’s approach to vehicle emissions and standards, suggesting that California’s decision could have a ripple effect across the United States.
California Governor Gavin Newsom told the New York Times the change was “one of the most significant steps toward eliminating the tailpipe as we know it.”
It should have a continuing effect in Australia, as manufacturers could increase their investment in battery-powered machines, including the new generation of electric vehicles that are currently off limits here.
The proposed change includes a loophole for plug-in hybrid vehicles with at least 50 kilometers of electric-only range.
This could provide a lifeline for supercar brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren to continue selling extremely profitable cars with powerful gasoline engines to ultra-rich collectors in California.
Several major car markets have signaled end dates for the sale of new gasoline and diesel-powered cars, including the United Kingdom (2030) and the European Union (2035).
In Australia, the only region with an official target for the end of petrol and diesel car sales is the ACT, which aims to phase out new registrations of combustion vehicles by 2035.
California has taken the cause of low emission vehicles further than most areas. Incentives for owners, such as the use of transit lanes to speed up traffic jams, helped shift customers to hybrid cars like the Toyota Prius and then to electric machines like the Tesla Model 3.
The state has recorded the sale of more than 1 million new electric cars.
John Bozzella, president of the American Alliance for Automotive Innovation, said electric cars accounted for 18 percent of new cars in California, nearly tripling the US total.
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