Texas Dealer Association Interfering with Free Capitalism?

NY dealers try to make it illegal to register a Tesla
Following his big battery swap reveal in California Thursday night, Tesla CEO Elon Musk is turning his eye to New York. That's where a new tactic by the local auto dealers could put a damper on Tesla's electric-vehicle success story.
Specifically, Green Car Reports says, there are two nearly identical bills being stealthily moved through the New York state legislature (Assembly bill A07844 and State bill S05725) that would prohibit the state from registering any vehicles that had not been sold through an independent third party (i.e., a dealer). The move prompted Musk to Tweet, "Just heard that NY auto dealers are sneaking through a bill to shut down Tesla in NY. Please call your state senator!" He later sent out, "NY Assembly passing bill to shut down Tesla, but Senate holding the line. Appreciate senators resisting influence of auto dealer lobby

Green.autoblog.com

:driving:

In my 20+ years of purchasing, I have seen so many middlemen go by the wayside, maybe it is time for auto dealers to do the same, or at least modify the business.

The way I heard it is that new car sales aren't where the dealers make the real money, if you don't like the deal on a new car, there is always another dealer to visit to buy the exact same car.

Maybe time to just order it off the manufacturer's website and pick up?

Tesla wins in North Carolina, paves the way for direct-to-consumer sales
Tesla Motors continues to buck the odds, celebrating a major victory in the North Carolina Senate this week. The North Carolina Automobile Dealers -- concerned about competition -- set its sights on the green car company last month when it endorsed a bill that would've significantly curtailed Tesla's ability to sell vehicles in the state. The legislation, supported by the Senate's Commerce Committee, targeted direct-to-consumer sales which eliminate the need for dealerships. But Elon Musk and friends proved that it wouldn't be quite so easy to squeeze them out of NCAD's territory -- Tesla took both North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory and House Speaker Thom Tillis on test drives to show off the car's capabilities. Musk's strategy seems to have paid off, as the North Carolina House of Representatives struck down the bill on Tuesday. With another victory under its belt, Tesla's upward momentum shows few signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Source

But now the Feds are investigating the Tesla's catching on fire. My coworker says he loses about 40% of his charge on cold days like today.

Car Dealers Are Terrified of Tesla’s Plan to Eliminate Oil Changes
Car dealers fear Tesla. In states across the country, powerful car dealer associations have lobbied to ensure the electric car maker and its direct-sales model are kept out. This movement claimed another victory this week when New Jersey banned Tesla stores in the state.

On the surface, the fear is hard to fathom. In New Jersey, for instance, sales of Tesla’s $70,000 Model S reportedly number in the hundreds. But if you dig a little deeper, it becomes obvious why dealers are worried. They don’t just fear Tesla’s cars. They fear Tesla’s plan to create a world where you never have to bring your car into the shop again.

The first and most striking way Tesla kills the dealer service department cash cow is downloads. As part of its sales pitch

Wired.com

The failed junk mobiles from GM, Ford and Fiat.....oops...Chrysler........are wetting panties.......they still produce junk with big plastic grills to jack up the deer gutters.......Tesla is a massive threat.........out of all places.....CAL........weep rust belters........

Car dealers lobbying hard against Tesla. You would think that they have a lot of influence in states, but many towns in Colorado don't like them because they don't make many taxes for the community since the sales tax you pay actually goes to the community where you reside.