JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

by batcave

HTML

<script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.6.3/jquery.min.js"></script>
<select name="cars" id="cars">
  <option>Select car</option>
  <option value="audi">Audi</option>
  <option value="mercedes">Mercedes</option>
</select>

JavaScript

const $select = $('select option:last-child');

$select.prop('selected', true);