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Tesla isn't banned from selling cars in Michigan, they're not allowed to sell manufacturer-direct. No one in Michigan is allowed to sell manufacturer-direct.
by alrs 11y ago
Tesla isn't banned from selling cars in Michigan, they're not allowed to sell manufacturer-direct. No one in Michigan is allowed to sell manufacturer-direct.
- JoshTriplett 11y ago> Tesla isn't banned from selling cars in Michigan, they're not allowed to sell manufacturer-direct. Which means they're banned from selling cars. They have to use intermediaries to sell cars for them. > No one in Michigan is allowed to sell manufacturer-direct. Imagine if the recording industry had successfully lobbied for laws that prevented anyone from selling music directly. "IndieBandFoo isn't banned from selling music in the US, they're not allowed to sell artist-direct. No one in the US is allowed to sell artist-direct." This restriction is no less ridiculous.
- alrs 11y agoI don't support the law, but I take issue with journalists that allow Tesla to frame the debate as "barred" from selling cars. They could sell cars through franchised dealerships, and they choose not to.
- Igglyboo 11y agoSelling cars through a dealership is not Tesla selling cars it's the dealership selling cars, it's ridiculous that they cannot sell their own product to consumers without paying a middleman.
- modfodder 11y agoTesla is barred from selling cars in Michigan. They are not barred from allowing someone else to sell their cars in Michigan.
- diminoten 11y agoThat's what he's saying -- the article and comments here are being made in the thrust of "Teslas can't do their primary business in Michigan,". That's not true.
- modfodder 11y agoIt is true, as Tesla's primary business is selling their cars directly to consumers which Michigan has banned.
- diminoten 11y agoThat's what he's saying -- the article and comments here are being made in the thrust of "Teslas can't do their primary business in Michigan,". That's not true. A dealership in Michigan can "buy" Tesla cars, or whatever mechanism exists. "Tesla is refusing to do business in Michigan" would be a clearer way of putting it.
- modfodder 11y agoTesla's primary business is selling the cars they build directly to consumers and Michigan has barred Tesla from doing that. To do business in Michigan would force Tesla to change their primary business model.
- mayneack 11y agoIt's similar with beer (all alcohol?) in most states. They have to use a distributor and can't sell directly (except at the brewery). That why beer availability often follows state lines instead just distance.
- deleted 11y ago[deleted]
- hartator 11y agoYeah, they are not explicitly saying "Tesla" in the law, but everyone understand it's anti-tesla bill. (Exactly like the anti-uber bills in some cities that are generic but target Uber.)
- netcan 11y agoIt's not a law targeting Tesla. The law predates Tesla.
- vvanders 11y agoThey could easily add an exception for companies that don't distribute through dealership(which has happened in other states) but I doubt you'll see it any time soon.
- dstein64 11y agoThe TechCrunch article mentions a recent law: "The state’s governor signed a law last October that banned the company from selling its vehicles directly to consumers."
- netcan 11y agoMy bad. I somehow read it as a case last year, not a new law.
- bskap 11y agoIn a lot of states (not sure about Michigan specifically), the law was "if you have any dealers in the state, you can't sell direct". The dealers are trying to change that to "you can't sell direct" to block Tesla.
- aric 11y agohttp://www.theverge.com/2014/10/22/7038407/michigan-tesla-ban-signed-into-law http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/22/7038407/michigan-tesla-ba...
- btian 11y agoWhat do you mean by no one? Apple has shops in Michigan, no?