After learning of the bill, Tesla rallied owners and supporters to contact legislators and complain.
General Motors' efforts to block Tesla Motorsfrom selling cars in Indiana have hit a snag.
The Detroit-based automaker allegedly authored and pushed for a bill that would effectively ban Tesla from selling cars directly to customers in the state. An early draft of the proposal had received nearly unanimous support from the state Senate.
After learning of the bill, Tesla rallied owners and supporters to contact legislators and complain. The efforts appear to have been successful, as the state Senate Commerce and Technology Committee has voted to stall the bill until it can be reviewed in a summer study session.
Republican state Senator Jim Buck claims to have encountered 'incivility' from critics, while the bill's author, Republican state Rep. Keven Mahan, has heard that constituents view the legislation as 'anti-free market,' according to statements published by IndyStar .
GM appears to have confirmed its role in the initiative. Rather than backing down, the company has vowed to step up its efforts to push for direct sales across the country.
"GM is very pleased that we were able to elevate the issue of disparity impacting our dealer partners in Indiana, that this received as much attention as it did, and that this issue advanced as far as it did. We appreciate the Indiana legislature for taking this on, debating, and helping raise the profile of this important issue, which demonstrates the inequity of different competitors having different rules in the marketplace," the automaker said in a statement.
Federal Trade Commission officials have suggested direct-sales bans are bad for consumers. In many states, such proposals have been met with bipartisan resistance from eco-conscious Democrats and free-market Republicans.
Here at Leftlane, we believe the contributions of the community are just as valuable as those of our staff. The Web, at its core, is a medium for information sharing and communication. We strive to provide good information, but without you—the community member—there is no communication. Read More>>