Look at the above map, where red colors those states in the US which have passed “anti-Tesla legislation” banning the company from direct consumer sales, and you’ll notice one thing: the electric automaker has lost a lot of ground.
This map was brought to our attention by the folks at Green Car Reports (originally from Mojo Motors), and has been updated as of November 4th. Interestingly, many of the red states still have stores and galleries within their borders; most anti-Tesla legislation doesn’t ban these company-owned showrooms. Instead, they simply ban Tesla employees at these locations from offering test drives, or discussing pricing.
Of course, the recent anti-Tesla legislation that passed in Michigan is a bit different; it essentially precludes the company from even opening a gallery within the state. But thankfully, regardless of whether a given state allows stores, no anti-Tesla legislation can ban company service centers or supercharger stations.
Previously, Tesla Motors had banked on the strategy of going through and battling anti-Tesla legislation state-by-state. But looking at the above map, it seems plain to see that the dealers will soon have won, forcing the automaker to adopt a dealership model in order to continue its expansion into the driveways of American consumers.
No Comments yet