dealers
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Last week, barely minutes before it adjourned, the Maryland House of Representatives passed a bill authorizing Tesla Motors to sell its electric cars from up to four stores in the state. Now, courtesy of a video sent in by a reader, we can hear that bill's sponsor describe the process that led to the bill--and why he cared about Tesla in the first place. DON'T MISS: Tesla Sales Now Legal As Little MD Goes Big On Electric Cars Speaking on April 18 at a "Reach the Beach" event at Hooper's Crab House in Ocean City, Delegate Kirill Reznik of Montgomery County discussed the events that led to the...
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Tesla Sales Now Legal As Little Maryland Goes Big On Electric Cars
Well, add one more to the list of states where Tesla Motors can legally sell its electric cars--and do so without having to use franchised dealers. The Maryland General Assembly has reversed a ban on direct sales by Tesla, which displays its cars in Tesla Store and "gallery" facilities it operates...
John Voelcker -
Seattle Honda Dealer Adopts Tesla & Apple Sales Elements, Learns Lessons
A Seattle dealer attempts to eliminate haggling, but has trouble adjusting.
Stephen Edelstein -
Buy An Electric Car Online? In Japan, BMW i3 Is Sold On Amazon
The BMW i3 electric car goes on sale on Amazon.co.jp.
Stephen Edelstein -
You Shouldn't Want To Buy A Kia Soul EV, Says Kia Dealer
It's often said that one of the bigger impediments to sales of electric cars is car dealerships. Among plug-in car shoppers, stories abound of salespeople who know little or nothing about electric vehicles, misrepresent their abilities, and aggressively steer shoppers away from them toward gasoline...
John Voelcker -
Tesla Store Helpful, Enthusiastic; One Chevy Volt Dealer, Not So Much
It's long been known that getting some car dealerships to sell plug-in electric cars can be a challenge. Now, one reporter tested the thesis for himself, by visiting both his local Tesla store--to inquire about the Model S electric luxury sedan--and his local Chevrolet dealer, to ask about the Volt...
John Voelcker -
Ah, satire. From Jonathan Swift's "modest proposal" to MAD Magazine in the formative years of many pre-teen boys, it serves as a bracing reminder of the absurdity of life. Fast forward to the ongoing state-by-state battles between Tesla Motors and lobbyists for state and national car-dealer interests, who are trying to get franchise laws modified to make the electric-car maker's direct sales to retail buyers illegal. DON'T MISS: Auto Dealers Try Charm: Why Tesla Direct Sales Hurt Buyers, They Say (Video) Last summer, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) launched the first in...
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Tesla Wins One In Jersey: Gov Christie Signs Bill To OK Four Stores
Tesla can now operate up to four of its retail stores in New Jersey.
Stephen Edelstein -
Report On Tesla-Style Direct Sales Cites GM Brazil Program Ended In 2006
The topic of Tesla Motors and its direct-sales model continues to roil state legislatures, with bills for and against the practice under debate in several states. In May 2009, the U.S. Justice Department issued a paper that looked at the economic effects of state bans on such direct sales. Now it...
John Voelcker -
Strange Bedfellows: Consumer Groups, Koch Brothers Unite To Back Tesla Stores
Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity is one of 10 groups to sign a pro-Tesla letter to U.S. lawmakers.
Stephen Edelstein -
Tesla Vs Franchised Car Dealers In Texas, Arizona: Battles Continue
Debate over Tesla direct sales is re-sparked in Arizona and Texas.
Stephen Edelstein -
New NADA Chairman Will Continue Anti-Tesla 'Get The Facts' Campaign
Last June, the National Automobile Dealers Association launched a publicity campaign to convince car buyers why it's in their own best interests that dealers make it illegal to buy a car from Tesla Motors. The campaign is called "Get the Facts," and it now includes a handful of animated videos...
John Voelcker -
One of the benefits of battery-electric cars is that they have far fewer moving parts than gasoline vehicles, so they require less servicing. Or as the old saying goes, "Nothing but tires and wiper blades"--which is a bit reductive, but pretty close to the truth if you add in occasional brake-fluid checks. DON'T MISS: Life With Tesla Model S: At Last, Some Maintenance Needed (New Tires) So imagine the surprise of one Nissan Leaf owner in the U.K. who found he'd paid £8.94 (about $13.60) for a new oil filter and £17.50 ($26.60) for a new air filter during his very first annual...
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GM Lauds Greenest Dealers, Shares Best Practices For Cutting Energy Use
General Motors launches its Green Dealer Recognition program to encourage energy-efficient practices.
Stephen Edelstein -
Anti-Tesla Laws In AZ, MI, NJ & TX Nominated For 'Luddite Award'
Awards to dealerships and car-dealer groups are common, and often both appreciated and promoted by their recipients. A new award nomination that recognizes the work of state dealer lobbyists, however, is not likely to get that appreciation or publicity--at least from dealers in those four states...
John Voelcker -
Could Elon Musk's Hyperloop Crack The Texas Tesla Sales Ban?
How Elon Musk's planned Hyperloop test track could become a bargaining chip in the game of direct sales.
Stephen Edelstein -
Tesla Sales Model Intrigues Volvo, Lexus, AutoNation--Though Dealers Must Remain, By Law
Electric-car maker Tesla Motors has shaken up the auto industry in many ways, and it continues to do so. Now, aspects of Tesla's online direct-sales model are starting to influence other companies in the car business--and their executives are saying so--even as lobbyists for franchised car...
John Voelcker -
Connecticut Considers Bill To Let Tesla Sell Direct To Buyers
Connecticut may change dealer-franchise laws to allow Tesla direct sales.
Stephen Edelstein -
It seems to be a common assumption among Tesla Motors supporters: State auto-dealer lobbyists work with Republican legislators to enact laws banning direct sales of Tesla's electric cars to retail buyers. But is it true? An article last month in The New York Times offers a few data points that may help assess the supposition. DON'T MISS: Iowa Dealers Shut Down Tesla Test Drives As Rep Humiliates Them While the article looks mainly at support among Republicans for Uber, the car-service app for smartphones, it also alludes to the fight between Tesla and state dealer groups. It covers conflicts...
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New Honda 'Green Dealer Guide' Spells Out Energy Efficiency For Dealership Buildings
Honda translated lessons learned from its green-dealer program into a set of voluntary guidelines.
Stephen Edelstein -
BMW Launches Flexible Mobility Program For i3 Electric Car
It's not a new idea, but it's one that carries a certain allure: Let the buyers of an electric car borrow a different vehicle for those few times a year when they need to travel long distances. Loaner programs have been offered by a number of electric-car makers, including Fiat for its 500e car in...
John Voelcker -
Dealer Chains May Still Hate Tesla, But Now They're Learning From It
Dealer chains seek to streamline the buying process.
Stephen Edelstein -
Car Dealers: Innocent, Delicate, Fragile Blossoms, Apparently
"We're not gonna take it any more!" If you're of a certain age, that line likely brings back memories of a 30-year-old Twisted Sister song. You might be less likely to think of it as the headline of an article about the hurt feelings of car dealers. DON'T MISS: The Videos Car Dealers Hate: Is It...
John Voelcker -
Cheapest Electric Car, Under $10K: Only For Tesla-Hating Car Dealers
A 2014 Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric car can be had for under $10,000, but only after some complicated math.
Stephen Edelstein