Electric vehicle maker Tesla has been selling its cars to eager U.S. consumers since 2008. But not in Connecticut.
This state is one of more than a dozen that ban automobile manufacturers from selling directly to consumers, requiring instead that new cars be purchased through a licensed dealership. Tesla sells all of its new vehicles directly to consumers, primarily via online ordering, and delivers them through a network of storefronts in states that allow the company’s direct-sales model.
For Connecticut EV enthusiasts, picking up a newly purchased Tesla meant driving across state lines — until now.
On Wednesday, Mohegan Sun announced that Tesla plans to open a “Sales & Delivery Center” at the casino’s mall before the end of this year. Beginning this fall, patrons will be able to buy or pick up new Tesla vehicles at the store, or take the cars for a test drive around the resort grounds. The storefront will sit across from chef Todd English’s restaurant, Tuscany.
The casino’s press release Wednesday described Tesla’s new storefront as “a first-of-its-kind venture” for the state. “Locals and visitors alike will soon have the chance to take home the Model Y, Model 3, Model S and more,” the announcement read.
In response to the news, Hayden Reynolds, chairman of the Connecticut Automotive Retail Association, said, “It is essential to strike a balance between respecting tribal sovereignty and maintaining a level playing field for all car dealerships in Connecticut.” Reynolds said the association respects the tribe’s sovereignty, “but we strongly believe that this does not change the discussion about Tesla and other EV manufacturers with direct-to-consumer sales, and we continue to oppose that model. Connecticut’s dealer franchise laws benefit consumers and provide a competitive marketplace.”
Connecticut is only the latest state where Tesla has employed this strategy…