Texas lawmakers won't approve Tesla dealerships

[TexasTowelie]

Texas dealerships can breathe a sigh of relief after lawmakers rejected a proposed law that would have allowed Tesla to open dealerships across the state.

The luxury electric carmaker was pushing lawmakers to reverse a state law that forbids manufacturers from directly selling to consumers. The bill did not get approval during the recent legislative session.

House Bill 3351 would have allowed car manufacturers to sell up to 5,000 vehicles per year at the manufacturer's dealership. According to StateImpact Texas, Tesla CEO Elon Musk believes the company could sell 1,500 to 2,000 vehicles a year in Texas.

Musk has been adamant that the luxury brand needs to be directly available to consumers and not be forced into a franchise system.

More at http://www.chron.com/cars/article/Texas-lawmakers-won-t-approve-Tesla-dealerships-4579344.php?cmpid=hpfsln .

[Ilsa]

1. So much for the Repubs' belief in free market

enterprise. They want to regulate the hell out of commerce that doesn't endorse fossil fuel use. Too bad the Lege isn't fossil fuel yet.

[hobbit709]

2. More like the TX Dealers Assoc doesn't want any competition that they're not getting

a cut of the action from.

[mbperrin]

3. Heavens, yes, I though we were living in an unfettered free market here!

Next thing you know, Perry and the Lege will be interfering with a woman's right to buy an abortifacient on demand!

They're for small government, all right - small enough to fit in a woman's uterus, but big enough to crowd out the keys to a Tesla.