Welcome to another edition of Driving Change, the official blog of the Cool Air Rebate Program (CAR)! I’m Nathan Perrine, Executive Director of the Car Care Council and Chief Financial Officer of the Auto Care Association.
WHAT’S NEW: Expanded Network
We’re celebrating CAR’s first anniversary – one year since the program launched and quickly grew into a statewide movement that transforms lives, supports businesses, and protects our environment.
In California’s triple-digit summer heat, reliable A/C is essential, not a luxury. By covering up to 90% of repair costs, CAR has delivered quick relief to families, kept local shops busy, and prevented thousands of pounds of harmful emissions from leaking into the atmosphere.
Over the past year, CAR has generated more than 100 news stories across California in English and Spanish, amplifying our message from local neighborhoods to statewide audiences. Much of this attention has been fueled by our network of 300+ community partners and hundreds of repair shops — trusted messengers who bring the program to life in their neighborhoods and inspire even more drivers to take part.
WHAT’S NEW: Expanded Network
Since our pilot launch in July 2024, CAR has helped Californians save more than $2 million on environmentally beneficial vehicle repairs, fixed 1,924 leaking A/C systems, and provided relief to nearly 5,000 drivers.
From a handful of early champions to 293 approved shops in more than 130 cities, our network has rapidly expanded thanks to our partners who see both the business value and the community mission. I’ll never forget our kickoff in Fresno, in blistering heat, with Mayor Jerry P. Dyer and Senator Anna Caballero backing us from day one. They believed in the vision, and together we’ve delivered on it.
This rapid growth isn’t just a statistic; it’s a network of real businesses and community partners coming together to make a difference. That spirit was on full display at our 100th Shop Celebration.
SPOTLIGHT : 100th Shop Partner
To mark our progress, we kicked off summer with a statewide launch event at Bill McAnally Racing NAPA AutoCare Center in Roseville, celebrating our 100th shop partnership. Shop owners, elected officials, environmental leaders, and community partners gathered to reflect on the past year and look ahead to the future. The timing made it even more special, coinciding with NAPA Auto Parts’ 100th anniversary — a shared milestone that underscored the deep roots and bright future of our industry.
Today, our reach includes more than 310 community partners statewide, ensuring eligible customers have access to the CAR program no matter where they live. In Northern California, Sacramento State University’s College of Continuing Education has played a pivotal role in connecting students and families to participating auto repair shops. In the Central Valley, the West Fresno Family Resource Center works closely with residents to remove barriers to essential car maintenance. And in Southern California, organizations such as Hope Collaborative and Casa Blanca Home of Neighborly Services are spreading awareness across the Inland Empire.
As Angelita Echeveste, Program Director at the Neighborhood Resource Center in Fresno, put it: “Our families need this program. They need their hard-earned money for essentials, so car repairs usually come after all other necessities. The Cool Air Rebate Program removes the worry of how to pay for the repairs.”
IN FOCUS: Media Momentum
The media response has been remarkable and deeply gratifying. Television, radio, digital, and print outlets across the state — in both English and Spanish — are telling the CAR story, underscoring CAR’s broad reach, appeal and impact. Coverage has spanned from KCRA Sacramento and KCBS San Francisco to ABC San Diego and Univision Los Angeles.
Much of this attention has been amplified by our shop network partners. These businesses aren’t just repair facilities; they’re community anchors, often serving the same families for generations, and they are the heartbeat of CAR’s success.
In Fresno, Claudia Ramirez, owner of Complete Auto Repair, has seen customers delay repairing broken A/C systems for years due to financial constraints — until CAR made it possible, improving daily life for both drivers and their families.
In San Diego, John Eppstein, owner of John’s Automotive Care, said the program has changed his conversations with customers. Instead of delivering bad news about a $4,000 repair bill, he can now offer real solutions: “It’s a huge relief… if you can take that burden off them.”
Thanks to our robust media coverage, these stories have reached audiences statewide, inspiring even more drivers and shops to take part in the program. With a year of inspiring stories and growing recognition behind us, we’re ready to carry this momentum into the year ahead.
WHAT’S NEXT: Year Two Plans
Year one proved that CAR works. Now, we’re aiming even higher. Over the next 12 months, our goal is to:
- Pay out $5 million in repair assistance to California drivers.
- Onboard 200 additional shops, strengthening our reach in urban, suburban, and rural communities.
- Process 17,000 applications and complete 5,000 vehicle repairs, helping thousands more drivers stay cool, safe, and comfortable on the road.
Beyond the numbers, our focus is on making sure drivers know help is available before they’re faced with costly, unexpected repairs, and giving shops the tools and promotional support they need to succeed.
At its core, CAR’s mission is simple: every A/C we repair brings comfort to a family, strengthens a local business, and keeps California’s air cleaner. Seeing that mission in action — thousands of repairs completed, hundreds of shops participating, and hundreds of community partners involved — has been the most fulfilling part of this first year, and I’m excited to build on this progress in year two.
