The whole point of the required "dealership" is that it has no affiliations with the manufacturer. It's welfare for middlemen.I think the optional choice is for Tesla to open their one and only Cybertruck Texas dealership at the Austin factory. And Service Centers everywhere in Texas. Win-Win .
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Tesla doesn't have dealerships. Only showrooms where you can do demos and order things. The ones near me also seems to do some kind of service, but they have no salespeople at any place I have seen.I think the optional choice is for Tesla to open their one and only Cybertruck Texas dealership at the Austin factory. And Service Centers everywhere in Texas. Win-Win .
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In the US we like our capitalism combined with regulatory capture,The whole point of the required "dealership" is that it has no affiliations with the manufacturer. It's welfare for middlemen.
Money rules.In the US we like our capitalism combined with regulatory capture,bribery, lobbying, and state endorsed monopolies. It's not really good for the average consumer, but if you are in the right industry and have the right connections it's quite lucrative.
"... they have no salespeople at any place I have seen."Tesla doesn't have dealerships. Only showrooms where you can do demos and order things. The ones near me also seems to do some kind of service, but they have no salespeople at any place I have seen.
They definitely take orders; that is how we bought our Model 3. And they set up test drives. They ‘talk’ like sales people, in some ways, but there is zero pressure."... they have no salespeople at any place I have seen."
Not sure what their job title is, but from those I've talked to, they think of themselves as order-takers and question-answerers, not sales people. One volunteered to me that he doesn't make money from sales.
Another stupid law. Apple has Apple Stores in Texas where Apple products are allowed to be repaired. Does this mean Texans will be going against other manufacturers who also want to be able to service their products in Texas? I doubt Apple has bribed Texas to allow this or that computer repair stores have tried to bribe Texas to restrict Apple from doing this. Isn't there something about restraint of trade that Texas is violating?They will get it worked out.
Some headlines about this and Tesla fixing their own cars
Texas Bill Would Prevent Tesla From Fixing Their Own Cars
The Lone Star State continues its attacks on Elon Musk's electric car company. Link : REASON
"The electric-car maker has 13 stores or galleries in Texas, now one of only two states blocking direct sales by manufacturers. Tesla employees at these sites can’t talk about prices, take orders, or sell cars. All transactions must happen online. By 2017, Tesla had spent at least $1.2 million to lobby Texas lawmakers to change that, but it was no match for the big political donations mustered by the 1,300 dealerships in Texas, major players in state politics.
At issue is a battle over money. Car dealers derive much of their revenue from selling and (especially) servicing vehicles. Tesla’s direct-to-customer sales and service stations are a threat to that business model since they cut dealers out of the transaction."
Link: QUARTZ