These are the states where you cannot buy a Tesla: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

According to this article: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a2...losing-stores/

i had no idea tesla sales were so crippled in the u.s.! I mean no sales in Texas!?

 

That author is a jackass.

 

Disagree. Car & Driver does not hire jack***es to write its articles, at least since Brock Yates left the magazine decades ago.



.......a​​​​nd right there, IMO, is the main problem with Tesla. They still persist with the policy of company-owned outlets and/or on-line orders, shutting down those outlets instead of doing what they should have done several years ago....allowing conventional, private-owned dealer-franchises. Allowing those franchises would not only have saved them a heck of a lot of litigation-money, but allowed them to sell in all 50 states with no problems. Their own stubbornness got them into this mess.

 

How about we let free enterprise do what they want. Want to sell your vehicles using a dealer network have at it, want to sell direct you can do that too. What this is really about is dealers are terrified if the law changes then they'll have competition.

 

Texas regulators might just change their minds when they see this LOL.

 

not sure why you’re so thin-skinned about anything tesla, but i disagree anyway.

it’s kinda bizarre you can no longer do a test drive of a tesla now! for true believers only to buy!

but about what you quoted, the first part was musk’s own words.

the second part, them saying maybe tesla should offer rentals, isn’t a bad idea. maybe your comment was a reaction to the last part about that being a legacy business... if so, relax?

 

now this i agree with 100%. tesla absolutely should be able to sell direct in all states.

now since you’re in canada, does tesla sell in all provinces?

 

I admit I test-drive a lot of vehicles that I personally don't buy.....either for review/write-up/curiosity purposes, or while shopping with others who sometimes DO buy or lease. But, conversely, I myself would never buy a vehicle I didn't or couldn't test-drive first (or at least test-drive an similiar sample). In my book, no test-drive, no sale.

 

I agree. The rules are *** backwards regulated to death like a socialist country. Let free enterprise dictate the economy.

 

Agreed, but, then, why isn't Tesla letting free enterprise work? You don't do that by micro-managing everything at the company level. You do that by allowing dealer-franchises to operate as needed...or as the market dictates.

 

Whaaat? You let companies operate without state intervention. That is free economy capitalism. The dealer franchises are being protected by the state akin to a socialist policy. You want free enterprise? Remove the laws that prevents Tesla from selling direct. Let them compete with the Franchises.

 

Maybe I come across that way but I'm not at all just fed up with the constant FUD when it comes to Tesla it gets tiring. I would defend any other company that was the target of the constant negative campaigns. And yes it's real.
I'm not sure, the charging infrastructure in my area is pathetic though.
Exactly, this is all about politics.

 

You're talking in circles, though. With the scenario that you describe here (all of the auto companies selling direct, without private-franchises) you will not have free market conditions, but, essentially, each company trying to set and manipulate conditions for themselves. That is why many states do not allow direct-marketing....it allows too many mini-monopolies at the corporate level. What's more, it's usually cheaper and less-expensive for auto companies not to own and operate their own dealerships...the history of Tesla proves that.

And just look at the amount of money that Tesla has wasted on litigation by fighting these state-laws....money that could (?) have been put to better use, such as improving the quality control of Tesla Model 3s at the factory. Yes, Tesla is getting criticism...and there is nothing wrong with criticizing a business (or a CEO) when it is deserved. That is not just idle-yapping from not being in the know.

 

If companies are allowed to sell direct, that is the very definition of free market. The only reason dealers exist in its current state is the auto companies did not have the logistics to deliver autos to all the areas en mass. Its like Colgate setting up shop in every city to sell toothpaste instead of selling to Walmart. Or the better analogy is Nokia setting up shop in every city to sell cell-phones instead of selling to Best Buy. Tesla doesn't need to sell its wares to a 3rd party distributor (like Walmart, Best Buy, auto franchises....). It's like Apple...set up shop online or at a physical location and sell direct.

You're basically arguing that Apple also shouldn't be able to set up shop in every city and be forced to sell to Walmart, Target, or Best Buy because it lessens competition???? Its exactly the same thing. Dealer franchises are a relic of the past that were a necessity when there was no concept of the internet. Tesla shouldn't be forced to set up a business model that is over a 100 years old! The only reason states fight Tesla is the lobbying from these franchises AFRAID of Tesla. States will recognize the ridiculousness of the rules soon and change those laws.

 

I believe this has all been covered before.. Auto manufacturers can sell direct, however, they cannot sell direct and franchise out (at the same time) in the United States. It is either or.

Personally speaking. I do not have a problem with the current dealer set up. I don't think I would ever pull the trigger on a fixed priced, direct from the manufacturer set up,