There is great news today for Tesla fans who live in New Jersey. Governor Chris Christie today signed a law that once again allows Tesla to sell its cars directly to residents of the state. New Jersey began enforcing a law about one year back which mandated that vehicles be sold to customers through dealerships. Tesla prefers owning its own showrooms where it can control the entire experience, from test drives to sales, so it stopped selling cars in the state. Today that restriction has formally been lifted.
Tesla doesn’t like to sell its electric cars through dealerships, whether they are state-certified dealerships or independently owned. It owns its showrooms and likes to keep it that way.
When New Jersey started enforcing the law Tesla stopped sales. The two showrooms that it has in the state could no longer offer test drives or discuss sales information with prospective buyers.
The company has been very vocal about the ban and has publicly fought against it. Today it scored a major victory when New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed a bill approved by the state legislature into law.
Tesla can now open up to four of its own showrooms in New Jersey and it is also required to one at least one service center.
A huge victory in New Jersey for consumer choice: We are open for business! @GovChristie
— Tesla Motors (@TeslaMotors) March 18, 2015
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