einar writes:
"New Jersey's governor Christie has decided that all new motor vehicles must be sold through middlemen. This blocks Tesla from directly selling cars, without traditional car sellers. Although, New Jersey decided so this week, they are in good company: 48 states in the US ban or restrict direct car sales."
(Score: 5, Insightful) by cmn32480 on Friday March 14 2014, @12:52PM
The problem is the protectionist laws that the automobile dealer industry has successfully lobbied for in the last 60-70 years. The dealers see the writing on the wall that they are using a business model that may no longer be sustainable, and there is probably a distinct fear that if Ford, GM, and Chrysler (or whatever they are called now) decide that they can do this, the dealers are out of their multi-million dollar investment, not only in the delareship, but in getting people to be serviced "by the dealer".
Tesla is able to keep costs down by NOT having a storefront and millions in inventory sitting on lots waiting to sell (or not).
How many of our state legislators are owned by people in the automobile industry? I bet a lot.
"It's a dog eat dog world, and I'm wearing Milkbone underwear" - Norm Peterson
(Score: 4, Interesting) by mhajicek on Friday March 14 2014, @01:08PM
What if Tesla were to sell as a "kit car", perhaps that doesn't come with a battery, but they also sell the battery in two or three size options?
The spacelike surfaces of time foliations can have a cusp at the surface of discontinuity. - P. Hajicek
(Score: 2) by NovelUserName on Friday March 14 2014, @02:42PM
It is my understanding that most states require that substantial assembly be done by the owner for something to qualify as a kit car. Leaving one component for customer installation doesn't cut it. You'd have to give them a frame and a pile of parts for the vehicle to qualify.
(Score: 2) by mhajicek on Friday March 14 2014, @03:04PM
The exact requirements would need to be delineated. I imagine it would be like buying an 80% AR-15 lower receiver.
The spacelike surfaces of time foliations can have a cusp at the surface of discontinuity. - P. Hajicek
(Score: 3, Interesting) by mmcmonster on Friday March 14 2014, @06:06PM
Not just that, but battery installation on a Tesla is pretty tricky, since it lines the entire bottom of the car.
Maybe they could offer to sell the batteries separately and offer free installation at one of their sites if you buy from them?