A state legislative body froze a bill that would have let Tesla Motors continue to sell its highly rated electric cars to Georgians without going through independent auto dealers.
A subcommittee of the House Motor Vehicles Committee voted Wednesday to table House Bill 393, a move representatives of dealers who opposed the bill said would allow time to try to work out an agreement with the bill’s supporters.
But the bill’s main sponsor interpreted the move differently.
“They want to kill the bill this year,” said Chuck Martin, a Republican from Alpharetta.
With the legislative session winding down, Martin said there are shrinking options to get the law changed in this, his second year attempting to do so.
“It’s a terrible statement for the free market system in Georgia,” he said.
Georgia law generally prevents vehicle manufacturers from selling direct to consumers, except for up to 150 custom-made vehicles a year. Tesla, whose Model S was recently rated the number one new car by Consumer Reports, sells direct to consumers, skipping the independent dealer model historically used by the biggest auto brands.
Auto dealers say Tesla violates Georgia law by going outside the dealer system and gives Georgia consumers fewer protections.
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