Tesla Sales Banned in New Jersey... hopefully not for long!

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Happy Days!

 

[NJ Plugin]

Press Release

Office Of The Governor



GOVERNOR CHRISTIE FOLLOWS THROUGH ON COMMITMENT TO SIGN
LEGISLATION ALLOWING DIRECT SALES BY TESLA MOTORS IN NEW JERSEY

TRENTON, NJ - Governor Chris Christie today followed through on his commitment to sign legislation allowing Tesla Motors to have lawful direct sales operations in New Jersey. The bill changes the law in New Jersey and removes the prohibition on direct sales by auto manufacturers who do not have franchise agreements, giving manufacturers of zero emission cars, including Tesla, the ability to sell directly to New Jersey consumers at up to four locations in the state.

"I said last year that if the Legislature changed the law, I would sign new legislation put on my desk and that is exactly what I'm doing today," said Governor Christie. "We're pleased that manufacturers like Tesla will now have the opportunity to establish direct sales operations for consumers in a manner lawfully in New Jersey."

The bill, A3216 / S2098, partially supersedes prior statute and corresponding regulations put in place by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission in April 2014 that required new car dealers to have a franchise agreement in order to sell new cars in the state.

In addition, the legislation signed today requires a vehicle manufacturer engaging in direct sales at an established place of business in the state to also maintain a servicing facility. Manufacturers must also report annually to the Division of Taxation as to the number of vehicles sold in New Jersey.

Primary sponsors of A3216 include Assembly members Louis D. Greenwald (Burlington, Camden), Timothy J. Eustace (Bergen, Passaic), Paul D. Moriarty (Camden, Gloucester), Pamela Lampitt (Burlington, Camden) and John F. McKeon (Essex, Morris). Senator Shirley Turner (Hunterdon, Mercer) is the primary sponsor of S2098.

 

[StephenM]

Awesome!!!! and about time...

 

[rogbmw]

Great news!

 

[bareyb]

Wow. That didn't take nearly as long as i thought it would. Power to the people baby!

 

[mhpr262]

In case anybody from Tesla is reading this, I'd like to point out that the number of "locations allowed to sell directly to the customer" is limited to four, but that a "minimum of one service center" is stipulated, so there is no limit to the number of service centers.

I do not think that the government has laid down rules as to what exactly a service center is allowed to do and what not. Nothing in the books prevents "service center" employees from answering questions from interested visitors regarding performance, specs, price or from "explaining" the buying process in front of a computer ... just give the guest a half hour of computer time and a handful of cookies for a dollar ... :wink: