You know Texas already has this right?
http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_te..._with_car.html
I fail to see how a unilaterally applied business model is 'unfair compe ion.' Tesla sells directly to consumers and eliminates the Ancira types of the world. If the dealers cannot compete then that is their problem. That is how compe ion is supposed to work: firms compete in price amongst other things.North Carolina May Ban Tesla Sales To Prevent “Unfair Compe ion”
From the state that brought you the nation’s first ban on climate science comes another legislative gem: a bill that would prohibit automakers from selling their cars in the state.
The proposal, which the Raleigh News & Observer reports was unanimously approved by the state’s Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday, would apply to all car manufacturers, but the intended target is clear. It’s aimed at Tesla, the only U.S. automaker whose business model relies on selling cars directly to consumers, rather than through a network of third-party dealerships.
The bill is being pushed by the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association, a trade group representing the state’s franchised dealerships. Its sponsor is state Sen. Tom Apodaca, a Republican from Henderson, who has said the goal is to prevent unfair compe ion between manufacturers and dealers. What makes it “unfair compe ion” as opposed to plain-old “compe ion”—something Republicans are typically inclined to favor—is not entirely clear. After all, North Carolina doesn’t seem to have a problem with Apple selling its computers online or via its own Apple Stores.
Still, it’s easy to understand why some car dealers might feel a little threatened: Tesla’s Model S outsold the Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7 Series, and Audi A8 last quarter without any help from them. If its business model were to catch on, consumers might find that they don’t need the middle-men as much as they thought.
Incidentally—not that he would be in any way swayed by this—I couldn’t help but notice that Apodaca received $8,000 in campaign contributions from the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association last year, the maximum amount allowed by state law. I’ve reached out to the senator for further comment and will update this post if he replies.
'Picking winners and losers' has become a conservative cliche yet the legislature that also legislated out climate change is now banning a company selling directly to consumers.
You know Texas already has this right?
" consumers might find that they don’t need the middle-men as much as they thought."
who NEEDS them?
Repugs HATE compe ion and love to do corporate bidding.
NC is also one of the states that forbids municipalities from building their own networks, another gift to the to the cable/DSL networking cartel.
http://www.wired.com/business/2011/0...uni-broadband/
Does it? If they do that is unsurprising.
Auto dealers killed direct internet sales quick in the 90s. I remember 60 Minutes doing a story where they just killed these dealers and all the dealers could say is "we want to offer a personal experience." The look on the one bag dealer when 60 Minutes asked "what if I don't care about meeting you?" was priceless.
Honestly though, it wouldn't be America without middle-men parasites jumping in to get their cut like the mafia. The middle man is as American as the bank bailout and corporate welfare.
I haven't read it yet, but here's the legislation:
link: SENATE BILL 327
true, unfortunately. that's the main reason taxes can't be simpler. too many professionals would be out of a job.
Heard on the radio that Tesla's CEO (I forget his name) was in Texas to meet with Perry to talk about getting to sell his cars directly to consumers in Texas. Given Perry's love to steal businesses from California, I wouldn't rule out the possibility of Perry & the state leg working out some deal for Tesla to relocate it's manufacturing operations from California to Texas in return for a boatload of tax breaks and some kind of law that allows them to sell directly to Texas consumers.
Seems like you could tier this. When Tesla manages to move X number of cars they would be required to go the retail franchise route. Until then, let them sell cars anyway they can.
Way too sensible of an outcome to be possible.
Just saw a Tesla Model S on the street for the first time today... Nice looking car, tbh
then why not ban fleet cars?
Interesting. The bill is completely bipartisan, and was passed in the senate 48-0.
Latest developments:
05/15/2013 House Passed 1st Reading
05/15/2013 House Ref to the Com on Transportation, if favorable, Commerce and Job Development
link: Senate Bill 327 History
I still haven't read the bill yet, and probably won't. I wonder if this is along the lines of consumer protection. Without a dealership, warranty repairs may be difficult to obtain.
to protect the customer, you must protect the middleman.
(rolls eyes)
Claiming you are a libertarian.
Yeah because no other industry has figured out how to honor warranties without using independent dealerships. While they are at it, they should ban the Apple store because how the are they going to repair iPods without Best Buy?
No one is even saying that Ford etc cannot utilize that business model for their purposes. If Tesla doesn't want to use that model then it gives consumers a choice. Cannot have that though. Much like Obamacare, we are forced to be beholden to a private industry.
It's like this that makes it very clear that outside of some window dressing, the policies of both parties are driven by the same motivation. That motivation is not the electorate. the electorate is too caught up in the window dressing.
What if the journalist listed reasons that are false? isn't it possible that it is an assumption rather than fact?
I'm only pointing out possibilities. Can you claim with certainty it is false?
I'm OK with that.
I just wonder where they get warranty service at. Is it part of the sales contract?
It's pretty sad how WC makes up in hopes that it will be an excuse for his political allegiance's ass-hattery.
He questions the source and then presents an alternative. Too bad the alternative was so poorly thought out.
You haven't read the link I posted earlier, have you?
It adds that any vehicle sales via computer, etc, that these people are classed as dealers, and must abide by the same rules. It adds in part of the text, batteries... when speaking of repairs...
There were other things added, but my legalese at that level isn't very good. I read the marked up current law, how the legislation would change it.
link: SECTION 1. G.S. 20-286(11)a. is amended by adding a new sub-sub-subdivision to read:
must create jobs, must collect more taxes from that single dollar
lol broke ass state doing whatever it can....
(Confederate) Repugs do something for the 99%?
Repugs are pro-business, -consumer
Have any of you read the proposed change in law?
You're bordering on re ation. The mental gymnastics you maneuver to make any reality conform to your narrow and misguided worldview is a absolutely astounding. .
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