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State of Iowa Tells Tesla To Cancel Its Scheduled Test Drives

Posted by Soulskill on from the because-reasons-and-whatnot dept.

puddingebola writes: Conflict continues between state governments and Tesla. From the article: "Iowa joined a growing list of states tussling with Tesla Motors' business model when it told the company to cut short three days of test drives earlier this month in West Des Moines. The Iowa Department of Transportation said the test drives were illegal for two reasons: Tesla isn't licensed as an auto dealer in Iowa and state law prohibits carmakers from selling directly to the public." While the article touches on the legal restrictions on selling cars in Iowa, it seems that Tesla was only providing test drives.

7 of 335 comments (clear)

  1. Rent a Tesla for $1 by istartedi · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Rent a Tesla for $1. This is a one-time offer. Limit one per customer. Problem solved.

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    For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
    1. Re:Rent a Tesla for $1 by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Rent a Tesla for $1. This is a one-time offer. Limit one per customer. Problem solved.

      I like this idea, but there must be some reason that Tesla is not doing it. Also, I think Tesla should focus on breaking these absurd laws. Tesla has shitloads of cash available from its founder, Tesla should take a "scorched earth" approach and start suing, and take all the way up.

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    2. Re:Rent a Tesla for $1 by Dcnjoe60 · · Score: 1, Interesting

      While I agree that not allowing the test drives is stupid, the whole dealer thing was to protect the consumer from purchasing a vehicle and not having any support for it. If the dealer requirement is removed so direct sells are allowed, expect an influx of inexpensive vehicles from SE Asia with no means of warranty repair or service. Yes, buyer be ware, but really, is it a good idea for the masses to be purchasing vehicles from Amazon?

    3. Re:Rent a Tesla for $1 by geoskd · · Score: 2, Interesting

      You forget that this is a democracy. If the laws are wrong, petulance isn't really the answer.

      We don't live in a democracy, and never have. Until and unless we have a real democracy, "By the people, for the people and of the people" is just a pretty fiction designed to keep the sheeple in line. The only way this will ever change is through aggressive "petulance"

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    4. Re:Rent a Tesla for $1 by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Properly targeted campaign donations would almost certainly be more cost effective.

      Apparently, they are not doing this or it isn't as effective as the money from local business?

      State and local politicians know who elects them, and it ain't Elon Musk.

      The courts are the only way for Tesla out of this bullshit.

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      If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
  2. No wonder Arizona and Texas didn't win Gigafactory by JoeyRox · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The article lists all the states that ban or limit Tesla's no-delaer business model and it includes Texas and Arizona, two of the four finalists for Tesla's new battery Gigafactory. Did those states think they had a chance when they support that crooked business cronyism?

  3. The test drives were illegal for two reasons? by lippydude · · Score: 1, Interesting

    The Iowa Department of Transportation said the test drives were illegal for two reasons: Tesla hasn't yet paid over our protection money and the car industry have paid up in full.