Tesla Gets Ohio Reprieve As Legislators Drop Anti-Tesla Amendment

Tesla has been fighting automotive dealer associations in several states around the US. One of the latest battles between Tesla and dealer associations is taking place in Ohio. An amendment in Ohio being pushed by the Ohio Auto Dealers Association that would have blocked Tesla's direct sales method was not taken up by the Ohio House committee.

That means the battle between Tesla and dealerships in Ohio will carry on into next year. The goal of the Ohio dealerships is to prevent Tesla from owning its own dealerships in the state and effectively selling cars directly to the consumer. The dealership association tried to get the anti-Tesla amendment attached to a bill that wasn't controversial to make it easier to pass.

The bill that the dealership association tried to get the amendment attached to had to do with requiring drivers on the roads in Ohio to move over when approaching road maintenance vehicles parked on the shoulder of the road.

"I've watched amendments go through at the last minute and making mistakes," said Rep. Rex Damschroder, R-Fremont, the Transportation Committee chairman. "This issue is of such importance that it shouldn't be rushed."

Interestingly Tesla already has dealerships it owns operating in Ohio. Tesla has a new dealership that opened in Easton, Ohio last week and another will open this week in Cincinnati. Dealers oppose Tesla's direct sales idea because they think it will give Tesla an unfair advantage.

SOURCE: Dispatch