February 19, 2015      3:12 PM
Bills filed to allow Tesla to sell vehicles direct from manufacturer
Let the battle begin: "Free market principles are the foundation of our strong Texas economy," Sen. Hancock said.
A
coalition of Democratic and Republican lawmakers on Thursday announced they've
filed bills, at the behest of Tesla Motors, to allow the direct
sales of some new vehicles from manufacturers to consumers and bypass traditional
auto dealers.
Reps.
Eddie Rodriguez, Charles “Doc” Anderson, Jodie Laubenberg,
Tan Parker and Ron Simmons have teamed up with Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, on House
Bill 1653 and Senate
Bill 639.
Right
now, Texas law only allows new car sales from someone who "holds a
franchised dealer's license."
These
identical bills would add certain manufacturers and distributors and require
that "the manufacturer's line-make has never been sold in this state
through an independent franchised new motor vehicle dealership." Under the
proposal, Tesla could operate 12 of its dealerships in Texas.
|