Manufacturers opted into the new California lemon law framework

California's new lemon law framework (AB 1755 / SB 26) is opt-in for manufacturers. Whether the faster refund-or-replacement track is available to you depends partly on which badge is on your car.

This list updates as manufacturers opt in and is sourced from the California Department of Consumer Affairs. If your manufacturer is marked Opted in, the fast track applies to your California claim. If marked Not opted in, the traditional Song-Beverly process is your path — which is not worse, just a different timeline.

What the fast track does

Under the opt-in track, a manufacturer must:

• Offer restitution or replacement within 30 days of your written pre-suit notice.
• Complete the buyback or replacement within 60 days of receiving your notice.
• Attend mandatory mediation within 150 days of the answer if the case reaches litigation.

A timely cure inside the 60-day window waives the up-to-2x civil penalty under Song-Beverly § 1794(c). For most owners, that tradeoff — bonus damages for speed — strongly favors the fast track. For details, read what the new California lemon law change actually did.

Priority consumer brands — status at a glance

The opt-in status varies across the brands California buyers are most likely to own:

• Tesla — Not opted in. Tesla California owners stay on the full traditional Song-Beverly track, including the civil penalty for willful dismissals. The 60-day cure window does not apply.
• Hyundai, Kia — Opted in. Both opted in in late April and early May 2025. Fast track applies.
• GM (Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, Buick) — Opted in as of April 23, 2025. Fast track applies.
• Stellantis (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat), Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Subaru, Jaguar Land Rover, Genesis, Maserati, Mitsubishi, Infiniti, VinFast, Lotus, INEOS — Opted in. Full list in the table above.
• Toyota, Honda, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, Volvo, Lexus, Acura, Rivian, Lucid — Not on the list as of the last check. California owners of these vehicles are on the traditional Song-Beverly track.

Many RV and motorhome manufacturers have opted in — Airstream, Winnebago, Jayco, Keystone, Thor Motor Coach, Tiffin, and others. Song-Beverly covers new motor vehicles including RVs, so the same opt-in mechanics apply.

How to read this list

• Opted in — The manufacturer has formally joined the new framework. A qualifying claim goes through the 30-day notice / 60-day cure process.
• Not opted in — The manufacturer is on the traditional Song-Beverly track. Claims still work; they follow the older timeline, and the civil-penalty path is fully available.

The DCA publishes the authoritative roster and updates it as manufacturers opt in. Our list reflects the most recent verified state against that source.

What this means for your case

If your manufacturer is opted in and you have documented repeat repair attempts on the same defect, you are in the fast-track zone. A properly drafted pre-suit notice starts a 60-day clock the manufacturer has to answer.

If your manufacturer is not opted in, your case doesn't disappear — it just follows the traditional path. Song-Beverly still applies. The remedies are still refund or replacement. The civil-penalty ceiling is still the full up-to-2x Song-Beverly range.

If your manufacturer just opted in and your repair history goes back before the opt-in date, the new procedural track still applies — opt-in is forward-looking from the election date for any suit you file going forward.