Washington State Senate Bill SB 5377 – Help Keep Tesla Open in Washington State

[mbrockus]

Got an email today about Washington state wanting to now ban direct to consumer auto sales. Tesla has been selling in this state for almost a decade. Why would they all of a sudden bring in this bill?

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[SCTesla]

Got an email today about Washington state wanting to now ban direct to consumer auto sales. Tesla has been selling in this state for almost a decade. Why would they all of a sudden bring in this bill?

Dealership lobbyist. Tesla can't sell in South Carolina and technically not in Texas due to these type of laws.

 

[YDR37]

Laws against direct-to-consumer auto sales in Washington were instituted after Tesla came into the state. Tesla was initially grandfathered in. Now the dealership lobby wants to get rid of the grandfather exemption.

EV companies that came after Tesla, like Rivian or Lucid, have never been able to sell cars in Washington. Rivian has to jump through hoops so that Washington customers technically buy out-of-state vehicles. They can't even offer test drives in-state.

 

[tingmo13]

these crooks have been working hand in hand for over 100 years making US, a world economy power with no Bullet Train. Now, with Drill Baby Drill in active mode-US will further dragged behind and China will soon eat all 3 meals.

 

[Razorcrest]

IIRC they have worked around this in other states by relocating to reservation land, which there are several in Washington State.

 

[BlueLightning]

Hmmm? As a Washingtonian didn’t vote for that?!

 

[mbrockus]

Laws against direct-to-consumer auto sales in Washington were instituted after Tesla came into the state. Tesla was initially grandfathered in. Now the dealership lobby wants to get rid of the grandfather exemption.

EV companies that came after Tesla, like Rivian or Lucid, have never been able to sell cars in Washington. Rivian has to jump through hoops so that Washington customers technically buy out-of-state vehicles. They can't even offer test drives in-state.

That is just stupid on so many levels. That explains why when I was looking at the R1T a while back I would have needed to go up to Vancouver BC to get an official test drive.

 

[HaulingAss]

I wrote my local rep. and told her this is an anti-consumer bill, trying to keep affordable, clean, safe and efficient cars out of the hands of Washington motorists. I'm tired of breathing other people's toxic exhaust gases.

 

[dw321]

Got an email today about Washington state wanting to now ban direct to consumer auto sales. Tesla has been selling in this state for almost a decade. Why would they all of a sudden bring in this bill?

Dare I say - Free Speech Advocate vs Wash State??

 

[GoldNekNinja]

The only reason they are trying to ban this is because dealerships have new cars piling up since no one wants to pay markup and their scummy fees.

 

[Travis64]

Its just going to make people want tesla’s even more

 

[DJAlan2000]

So, how soon before Tesla simply makes their 'Centers' into 'dealerships'?

Of course there will be NEW legislation to then say, "You must allow ANYONE to open a dealership." so that all the current dealerships can start selling Tesla's...

We SHOULD be going the OTHER way... Dealerships have been a rip off for over a century now, selling vehicles to one person for one price and a different price for someone else... Then of course there's the repairs/maintenance rip offs as well...

We should start pushing for NO DEALERSHIPS ALLOWED laws. Then, everyone will pay the same price (based on state of course) if purchased on the same day... Now THAT is fair!

 

[YDR37]

Laws against direct-to-consumer auto sales in Washington were instituted after Tesla came into the state. Tesla was initially grandfathered in. Now the dealership lobby wants to get rid of the grandfather exemption.

EV companies that came after Tesla, like Rivian or Lucid, have never been able to sell cars in Washington. Rivian has to jump through hoops so that Washington customers technically buy out-of-state vehicles. They can't even offer test drives in-state.

Tesla's status in Washington State was the topic of a couple threads last year. Thought it was worth revisiting to report the following updates:

Update #1: Washington State Senate Bill 3577 died last year. So Tesla was allowed to continue selling direct-to-consumer in Washington.

Update #2: Washington State Senate Bill 6354 passed this month. So now it looks like Rivian and Lucid will finally be allowed to join Tesla.

In three months, Washington state shoppers will for the first time be able to visit showrooms for Rivian and Lucid Motors, take a test drive, discuss financing, and walk out with keys to their new electric vehicle.

State lawmakers this week passed Senate Bill 6354, allowing the two EV makers to join Tesla in selling their vehicles directly to consumers, bypassing auto dealers that sell every other make of car. SB 6354 passed with overwhelming support in the Senate and House, and proponents are confident Gov. Bob Ferguson will sign the measure.

 

[devdrone6]

All manufacturers need to go this route; Dealers are mostly scammers. What should be a quick purchase turns into hours for their benefit, not the consumers.

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