some people want to kill the electric car
Tesla is unable to sell its vehicles directly to the public in Texas
21–30 of 83 posts
Re: Tesla is unable to sell its vehicles directly to the public in Texas
#22Could someone still buy some Teslas, leave them in the lot, then sell them on Craigslist?
Sure. The warranty's even transferable.
In fact, last I looked used Model S cars were going for more than retail. Scarcity, I guess.
But it's not like you can't get a Tesla in Texas, just that they can't sell it to you.
Re: Tesla is unable to sell its vehicles directly to the public in Texas
#23So, this might seem a silly question (I find the ban ludicrous but this is worth asking). Why not just allow certain dealers, approved by Musk himself for all that matters, to become 'authorized Tesla dealers'? Why does Tesla insist on direct-to-consumer sales, even to the point of not being able to do so in large marketplaces?
Musk clearly wants Tesla to sell all of their products themselves ala Apple. His stated reason was that car dealer's cannot properly advertise the benefits of electric cars without undermining their gasoline car business and so he doesn't trust them to properly sell the car.
That does not explain away others who would relish the idea of setting up an electric only dealership. He is using an pretty damn thin excuse to not allow others to sell the cars. Sorry, but there are many other like minded individuals who would very much sell the cars the way he wants, they may even improve on the methods.
Local dealers for electrics would provide the benefit of tighter integration with supporting businesses, from those who install the requisite plugs at homes, to marketing the need of stations to employers so that their employees can charge up at work. There are many many benefits to having local, private dealers.
Re: Tesla is unable to sell its vehicles directly to the public in Texas
#24So, this might seem a silly question (I find the ban ludicrous but this is worth asking). Why not just allow certain dealers, approved by Musk himself for all that matters, to become 'authorized Tesla dealers'? Why does Tesla insist on direct-to-consumer sales, even to the point of not being able to do so in large marketplaces?
The state laws tend to not only make using a dealership mandatory, but make it nigh impossible to sever the relationship once established.
That's why so many horrible dealerships are allowed to continue operating.
Re: Tesla is unable to sell its vehicles directly to the public in Texas
#25"Prior to the filing deadline, Tesla Motors reached out to Sen. Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls) and Rep. Eddie Rodriguez (D-Austin) who agreed to file bills on our behalf. These bills would permit U.S.-based manufacturers of 100% electric- or battery-powered vehicles to sell directly to Texas consumers." A silly band-aid to ridiculous legislation.
This bill failed in the last legislative session. The next session begins in January 2015, and a similar bill will likely be re-introduced.
Unless another special session is called.
Re: Tesla is unable to sell its vehicles directly to the public in Texas
#26some people want to kill the electric car
don't think it's about being against the electric car, but against a world where car dealerships are unnecessary. car dealerships will eventually go the way of the book store. they don't want a world in which they aren't the very profitable middle men between the consumer and the manufacturer. tesla's direct consumer sales threatens their existence, so they want nothing to do with it.
Re: Tesla is unable to sell its vehicles directly to the public in Texas
#27Earlier quoted context omitted.
Musk clearly wants Tesla to sell all of their products themselves ala Apple. His stated reason was that car dealer's cannot properly advertise the benefits of electric cars without undermining their gasoline car business and so he doesn't trust them to properly sell the car.
That does not explain away others who would relish the idea of setting up an electric only dealership. He is using an pretty damn thin excuse to not allow others to sell the cars. Sorry, but there are many other like minded individuals who would very much sell the cars the way he wants, they may even improve on the methods. Local dealers for electrics would provide the benefit of tighter integration with supporting b…
> There are many many benefits to having local, private dealers.
Oh, so is that why they are mandatory through legislation? Usually if something has "many many benefits", the behavior will spontaneously arise and not need to be government mandated
Re: Tesla is unable to sell its vehicles directly to the public in Texas
#28Earlier quoted context omitted.
That does not explain away others who would relish the idea of setting up an electric only dealership. He is using an pretty damn thin excuse to not allow others to sell the cars. Sorry, but there are many other like minded individuals who would very much sell the cars the way he wants, they may even improve on the methods. Local dealers for electrics would provide the benefit of tighter integration with supporting b…
> There are many many benefits to having local, private dealers. Oh, so is that why they are mandatory through legislation? Usually if something has "many many benefits", the behavior will spontaneously arise and not need to be government mandated
I thought the regulation was to deter monopolization from manufacturers, not to prop up the dealership business.
Re: Tesla is unable to sell its vehicles directly to the public in Texas
#29Earlier quoted context omitted.
Musk clearly wants Tesla to sell all of their products themselves ala Apple. His stated reason was that car dealer's cannot properly advertise the benefits of electric cars without undermining their gasoline car business and so he doesn't trust them to properly sell the car.
That does not explain away others who would relish the idea of setting up an electric only dealership. He is using an pretty damn thin excuse to not allow others to sell the cars. Sorry, but there are many other like minded individuals who would very much sell the cars the way he wants, they may even improve on the methods. Local dealers for electrics would provide the benefit of tighter integration with supporting b…
If traditional dealers are so great, why do they rank about on par with politicians (maybe even below) in public opinion? What value do they add?
Seems like rent-seeking via political clout to me...
Re: Tesla is unable to sell its vehicles directly to the public in Texas
#30Ahh, The American Way (TM) When a competitor offers a better product that you, make what they are doing illegal rather than competing with them. Stopping innovation in America since the 70s.
Is "since the 70's" some sort of ironic joke? US industries were extremely and overtly anti-competitive up until the deregulation of the 1970's. If competition is restricted now, it was far worse in the past.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staggers_Rail_Act