Texas Restrictions On Tesla Sales Could Keep Out Company’s Lithium-Ion ‘Gigafactory’

[Purveyor]

Sales restrictions placed on Tesla Motors by Texas could put the brakes on the state’s hopes of landing the company’s planned $5 billion lithium-ion battery plant.

The automaker cannot sell its electric cars directly to consumers in Texas due to state laws – among the nation’s strictest – that protect and regulate auto dealerships.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has already said that franchise restrictions would keep his company from building a possible truck manufacturing plant in Texas and Ohio, which has enacted similar laws.

Tesla has said it would locate its wind- and solar-powered “gigafactory” that could employ about 6,500 people in Texas, Arizona, Nevada, or New Mexico.

Texas lawmakers have sent a letter to Musk touting the state’s business-friendly reputation, but Tesla officials have suggested the state’s restrictions on its sales made it less attractive as a location for the plant, reported The Texas Tribune.

more...

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/03/18/texas-restrictions-on-tesla-sales-could-keep-out-companys-lithium-ion-gigafactory/

[BronxBoy]

1. I'm curious

As to why these green and worker friendly companies find it necessary to set up shop in red states

In this case, I'm assuming that the 4 states on the list are their because they make ideal sites for solar. But man I wish these companies would reward some progressive blue states

[pipoman]

3. Just read the other day

that NJ won't let them sell there either. ..

[BronxBoy]

5. So did I

But jersey wasn't on the list to get the plant.

[Warpy]

2. I love it when dumb shit conservatives shoot themselves in the foot like this

Maybe Tesla should open up here. There are a lot of well educated workers here who would love to work on building and improving batteries.

[Rex]

4. Ah Texas...my state...the I Hate Progress state.

Soon to change under Wendy Davis. Progress is coming, it is unstoppable.

[pneutin]

10. Umm...Wendy Davis is the one who opposes changing the pro-dealership laws

State Sen. Wendy Davis, the Democratic nominee for governor, said a Tesla battery factory would present a “tremendous opportunity” for the state and “keep Texas leading economically,” but in a statement to the Tribune, she indicated that she would stop short of pushing for an overhaul of the auto dealership law.

http://www.texastribune.org/2014/03/18/regs-could-harm-texas-bid-tesla-battery-plant/

[LanternWaste]

17. Appears you left out a relevant portion of her quote...

"As governor, I’d promote these kinds of initiatives while making sure that we also takes steps to retain existing businesses.."


Appears you left out a relevant portion of her quote... although I'm quite certain it was merely an over-sight on your part rather than disingenuous editing.

[pneutin]

21. It appears you left out the rest of her quote

“As governor, I’d promote these kinds of initiatives while making sure that we also takes steps to retain existing businesses – like car dealerships, in this case – that contribute to and make a huge difference in the local and state economy.”

The initiatives she supports are the ones that allow Tesla to build the battery factory, while stopping short of overhauling auto dealership laws that would piss off existing businesses like...car dealerships.

Appears you left out a relevant portion of her quote... although I'm quite certain it was merely an over-sight on your part rather than disingenuous editing.

[C_U_L8R]

6. Who says Republicans are pro-business?

Apparently they are just pro-payola.

[Wounded Bear]

14. You have to be the "right" businesses...nt

[Generic Brad]

7. Hmmm. Aborting jobs in the fetal stage is apparently ok

I thought the GOP did not want any restrictions on spilling their business seeds and letting them grow wherever they took root.

[Rocket_Scientist65]

8. The problem isn't with the GOP

The problem is with the car dealers. There is legislation in 48 states that prevent or restrict direct factory sales of vehicles to consumers.....basically all the car dealer associations trying (unfairly IMO) to protect their own self interest. They claim they're trying to protect the consumer. Not sure i'd by that excuse as it's prettyy hard to find anyone who HASN'T been screwed over by a new car dealer.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/28/tesla-direct-sales-auto-dealers-petition_n_3516836.html

[MicaelS]

11. No, the problem is with Tesla.

Car dealers employ a LOT of people. They pay lots of taxes of all types. Where do all these people fit in Musk's worldview? Is Musk going to replace the taxes and wage lost by killing all the car dealerships? No he won't. He'll fall back on the old Libertarian bullshit of letting the market rule. The people at car dealerships are completely disposable.

I wish Progressive / Liberal people would get over this love affair with Tesla, and hatred of car dealerships, and realize that Tesla is a real danger to people, local jobs and communities. Musk doesn't give a fuck about anyone except those that can afford his toys.

[snooper2]

12. Car Dealers employ a lot of people, and make a lot of money

cut out the middle man who isn't needed anymore-

I'm going to make a wild guess here and assume you are currently or at one point were employed by a dealership

[MicaelS]

13. No, never worked for one.

I just woke up and smelled the coffee.

[snooper2]

16. that's cool, kind of a mute point for me anyway

buying a NEW car is one of the dumbest decisions a person can make-

Unless it's an investment like a Pagani or something

[MicaelS]

18. Last new car I bought was in 1978.

Every car since then has been used. Current one is a Nissan Altima, and I'm very happy with it, too. My next car will be a used Nissan Altima.

[hack89]

15. So my job as a car buyer is to subsidize car dealerships

even if they afford me no added value and cost me more money?

[MicaelS]

20. Your money, your choice.

I'm just telling you what I think. I think local jobs and local taxes are more important, if some dealer makes money in the process, so be it.

[JCMach1]

19. No doubt at one point, TX worked hard to protect the horse stable

industry too...


Texas...

[Marrah_G]

22. is there some reason they are looking at only those states?

[kiranon]

23. Believe in time, Tesla will have car dealerships. For now,

it is a "start up" and can handle manufacturing and sales. In the future, when it is much larger, that won't be so possible. Change is good - one manufacturer selling its cars in a boutique style won't make all the other manufacturers change how they do business. Texas will probably lose the Tesla plant(s) - and those are jobs too. Saw several Teslas yesterday - they are incredibly beautiful. Can't afford one but love to see them.

[Mother Muckraker]

24. Why the Lithium Gigafactory should be stopped & another Elon Musk lie

Pollution concerns in China could raise lithium-ion battery prices
http://www.theverge.com/2014/3/20/5529458/tesla-and-prius-batteries-are-leading-to-polluted-rain-in-china

Environmentalists have long been concerned that the pollution caused by the production of electric cars negates the benefits of driving an exhaust-free vehicle. Now Bloomberg reports that one large ingredient in lithium-ion batteries — graphite — is causing particular concern in China, where much of it is mined. Authorities there have already shut down dirty mines that produce roughly 10 percent of supply in an effort to stem "graphite rain" and polluted water supplies.

Unfortunately, the crackdown comes just as demand is ramping up from companies like Tesla, which could double its graphite needs when its battery factory in California opens. For his part, Tesla CEO Elon Musk says on Twitter that the graphite used in its lithium-ion batteries is mined "in a very clean way" and comes from Japan.

Musk is lying again. The graphite from Japan is processed after Japan gets the raw graphite from China.