California plans to ban the sale of new petrol powered passenger cars and trucks in 2035 in a shift to EVs and would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35 per cent.

Governor Gavin Newsom told a press conference that the state was committing to a "firm goal" to phase out the sale of new petrol-powered vehicles by 2035 and was encouraging other states to take similar action.

Newsom said it was a "goal" and a "target" after his office said earlier his order would require the sale of nothing but zero emission passenger vehicles starting in 2035, said Automotive News.

The order does not prevent Californians from owning petrol-powered cars or selling them on the used car market.

California is the largest U.S. auto market, accounting for about 11 per cent of all U.S. vehicle sales.