Better headline: "Mississippi somewhat protects people from Musk"

"The bill does not restrict the sale of electric cars, as people can buy them online. But if they want to buy an electric car in person, they would have to drive to the state's only Tesla store in Brandon, which will be allowed to remain open under the new law. Tesla or any other electric car company could not open a new brick-and-mortar location to sell cars unless they enter a franchise agreement."

Nice to see they're consistently anti-progress across the board.

#6 | POSTED BY MORRIS AT 2023-03-15 02:16 PM | FLAG:

Once upon a time, the Franchise system in the automotive industry was very progressive regulation to protect small businesses and consumers from massive corporations that have been known to engage in expansive coverups of production flaws that kill people.

It's not a small irony the company that renewed the killed off direct to consumer model is also a corporation that misleading markets products that end up with the users dying in a fire and running into fire trucks.

Dealerships earned the hatred they receive with all the ------ things they do to you when you're trying to buy a car.
Buying a tesla is a seamless experience with none of those scams and frustrations.
Getting one serviced however is a different story and makes you miss dealerships.

#8 | POSTED BY SPEAKSOFTLY AT 2023-03-15 02:40 PM | FLAG:

The No Haggle model is still around in brands, Lexus off the top of my head, and actually predates Tesla. Scion was a menu driven, no haggle model where the dealership would lose their franchise if they violated that. Dealerships were heavily reformed with the survey system that provides accountability to the customers.

Tesla intentionally hoses you on service, because they can, and it's profitable. There is no dealership you can complain to. No liability. They don't even have to answer the service number. It's genius and psychotic at the same time.

Tesla isn't just no haggle, you do it from your phone, design it how you want, and go pick it up when it's ready. You barely even have to talk to anyone.

#10 | POSTED BY SPEAKSOFTLY AT 2023-03-15 03:01 PM | FLAG:

Very similar to the Scion "experience" which came out 5 years before the Tesla Roadster. Pick your accessories from a tablet. Car gets ordered per your menu specs. Fixed menu pricing. You talk to 1 person, then finance if needed. A cool, stylish brand designed for tech influenced youths with very efficient, lightweight vehicles built on JDM design cues. The actual buyer demographic wasn't what Toyota expected and Scion eventually went away. Lexus is more or less the same way now as far as purchase process. If the menu designed car can't be found, you don't like what's on the lot, then the dealer finds you something very close to it, and if that doesn't exist it or isn't agreeable, what you want gets ordered from the factory and eventually shows up.

You mean the one in-state Tesla dealership?

#16 | POSTED BY SNOOFY AT 2023-03-15 06:58 PM | FLAG:

"Store". Tesla doesn't have "dealerships". Dealerships are an obsolete a legacy notion for legacy car brands that value customer service.