Free Republic

Tesla got a carve-out. It’s a good day for auto dealers in the Sunshine State, and not so great for motorists who’d prefer a more direct route for buying a new coupe, sedan or SUV. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a measure (HB 637) banning most direct-to-consumer vehicle sales, solidifying the future viability of car-selling operations across the Sunshine State. The measure, championed and authored by lobbyists representing the Florida Automobile Dealers Association (FADA), prohibits automakers from selling vehicles directly to buyers.That restriction, which goes into effect July 1, was considered a direct threat to the business model of Tesla, an...

East Hartford’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously Tuesday evening to revoke a permit for a planned Tesla service center at 300 Connecticut Boulevard. ... The PZC signed off on the plans last April, but that decision came under fire in the form of a lawsuit filed by East Hartford-based Hoffman Auto Group, which argues that Tesla, which sells cars directly to consumers without going through dealerships, is trying to get around state law, which bans such sales. ...The Hoffman family of 10 auto dealerships along with more than 250 other dealers statewide remain committed to defending this state’s pro-consumer...