4 ms·
The NPR story doesn't seem correct, at least according to my understanding that Tesla show room locations do not sell cars, only provide information about them.
by dade_ 14y ago
The NPR story doesn't seem correct, at least according to my understanding that Tesla show room locations do not sell cars, only provide information about them. A car dealership is a business/location that sells cars, and Elon's argument is that a Telsa store does not sell cars and is therefore not a dealership. Sounds like defensible logic against the franchise lobby-law to me, but according to the NPR story a Tesla store sold a car. The law is ridiculous, but it is still the law.
According to the story: Mark Seegar claimed, "he walked past Tesla Motors' Bellevue, Wash., showroom. It's one of a handful of Tesla's company-owned stores. Within five minutes, he'd put down a deposit for an electric car that costs more than $50,000."
Tesla's site: "As it is, our Product Specialists could not sell you a car today under any circumstances, as Model S is already sold out several months in advance and there is no inventory on site. All they can do is get you to consider placing a reservation."
http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/tesla-approach-distributing-and-servicing-cars http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/tesla-approach-distributing-...
- mmariani 14y ago> ...Tesla show room locations do not sell cars, only provide information about them. Now how much would you bet that this argument will win this case for Tesla?
- njharman 14y agoDepends if jury believes putting down deposit is "buying" or not.
- thaumaturgy 14y agoTesla has an online reservation system (https://www.teslamotors.com/own https://www.teslamotors.com/own). From http://automotivedigest.com/2012/10/dealers-annoyed-with-tesla-motors-showrooms-and-service-centers/ http://automotivedigest.com/2012/10/dealers-annoyed-with-tes... : > Tesla’s stores are a bit different – essentially showrooms to gain consumer interest and education. For those impressed and wanting to buy, they’re directed to a computer to make their deposit and place their order. Tesla here is clearly navigating on purpose through a gray area in which the customer is technically not buying anything from the show room.
- njharman 14y agogray areas are what make epic court cases. If it was cut and dried one side or the other would settle.