New Jersey Assembly Committee Approves Tesla Direct-Sales Bill
Earlier this spring, Tesla ceased direct-sales at its two New Jersey showrooms due to enforcement of state law that prohibited such sales from auto manufacturers. That may soon change once a bill that would allow direct-sales to begin again comes to a vote before the New Jersey Assembly.
The Star-Ledger reports the bill — which would also allow Tesla to open two new stores — was drafted and passed by the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee in a 4 to 0 vote. A3216 isn’t limited to the Californian EV automaker, however, as the bill’s language welcomes any ZEV manufacturer to sell directly to the public at as many as four stores, and requires all to have at least one service facility for the vehicles sold.
Though no one testified against the bill, both the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers wanted the status quo of franchise dealership sales maintained. AAM director of state affairs Amy Brink called for language to bring direct-sales to an end if a ZEV automaker is sold to another automaker, while NJCAR president Jim Appleton held out hope that Tesla would be forced to enter the franchise game once operations have fully ramped up.
Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.
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That's one small step for Electric vehicles... ...one giant leap for FREE MARKET CAPITALISM.
It's the great Garden State. Someone somewhere got their pockets greased. if I know my old stomping grounds, my guess is that high end malls like Short Hills or Bridgewater that want a Tesla store [s]bribed[/s][s] made campaign contributions to enough state senators to make it happen. or at least gave more than the dealership association.[/s]