How Car Dealers and Their Lobbyists Crushed Tesla's Plan for Texas

[TexasTowelie]

This past legislative session, billionaire Elon Musk's push for a new law allowing electric-car maker Tesla Motors to bypass car dealers and sell directly to consumers crashed and burned.

Which wasn't a surprise. The state's car dealers have a long, proud history of plying legislators with campaign cash and gifts. So when Texas Auto Dealers Association President Bill Wolters complained that the Tesla bill would open the door for huge corporate car-makers to "compete with our family-owned businesses," lawmakers listened.

Still, it's instructive to take a detailed look at the battle, which nonprofit watchdog Texans for Public Justice provides this morning.

Musk spread a bit of money around, giving $7,500 in campaign contributions and spending somewhere between $255,000 and $565,000 on lobbyists.

More at http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2013/09/tesla_crushed_by_car_dealer_lo.php .

[Vinnie From Indy]

1. Musk can still win!

If I were Musk, I would formulate a strategy to locate sales/delivery offices in towns just across the border in surrounding states. I would follow that with an ad campaign that HIGHLIGHTS the ability to own a Tesla. "Tesla - the Car So Cool It Can't Be Sold In Texas!" and variations on that theme. Or, you could run with the tried and true "the Car The Evil Guv'mint Doesn't Want You To Own!" Texicans would love that! Throw in a free bible and a box of ammo with every car.