In response to Governor Murphy’s press release announcing that New Jersey has hit the milestone of 200,000 total electric vehicle (EV) registrations, Laura Perrotta, President of the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers (NJ CAR), issued the following statement:
“Reaching 200,000 total EV registrations is certainly a positive step forward for New Jersey, but we must acknowledge that there is still a long road ahead to meet Governor Murphy’s ambitious goal of 330,000 EV sales by 2025. New Jersey’s car dealers are committed to providing consumers with the vehicles they want to buy, but the reality is that consumers are not yet ready to purchase EVs at the levels mandated by the state.
The state’s EV market is governed by the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Advanced Clean Car II (ACCII) Rule, which required New Jersey’s new car dealers to sell over 100,000 EVs last year. Unfortunately, consumers purchased less than half of that amount. The ACCII mandates dictate that EVs must account for 23% of all vehicle sales in New Jersey this year, but through the third quarter of 2024, EVs accounted for just 11.2% of all vehicle sales—less than half of the mandate.
To put it into perspective, nearly 342,000 total vehicles were sold in New Jersey through September, including approximately 38,000 EVs. However, if New Jersey were meeting the ACCII mandate, that number should be closer to 79,000 EVs, leaving a shortfall of 41,000 vehicles.
In light of these realities, failing to recognize the marketplace challenges while cutting EV incentives, eliminating the EV sales tax exemption, and imposing an additional $1,060 EV registration fee on every purchase will only make it harder for the state to meet its EV sales goals.
Addressing the affordability of EVs and protecting consumer choice are crucial to the success of New Jersey’s transition to a cleaner, greener transportation future. To truly succeed in this effort, we need policies that support both dealers and consumers, ensuring that the adoption of EVs continues at a sustainable pace.”
The New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers (NJ CAR), founded in 1918, the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers (NJ CAR) is a non-profit organization that represents approximately 520 franchised car and truck retailers throughout New Jersey. The organization supports a nearly $43 billion industry and promotes the principles of commercial honor and integrity in the sale and service of motor vehicles. NJ CAR plays a critical role in keeping its members informed on a variety of business matters, trends, and legislation, ensuring they stay compliant with regulations and helping them navigate the evolving automotive landscape.
