Texas Lawmakers Want To Stop Tesla From Fixing Its Own Cars (electrek.co)

In Texas the local car dealer lobby has blocked Tesla from selling its cars directly to customers. They're using old laws meant to prevent car manufacturers from competing with their own local dealers -- but Tesla never had any local dealers!

And according to Electrek, it gets worse... Despite this issue, Texans have bought thousands of Tesla vehicles, which the automaker delivers from other states to comply with the law. Tesla has been able to service those vehicles through its own service centers, which are not subject to those same direct-sale rules, but now dealers are even going after Tesla's right to service its cars.
Quartz offers some additional coverage: At issue is a battle over money. Car dealers derive much of their revenue from selling and (especially) servicing vehicles. Tesla's direct-to-customer sales and service stations are a threat to that business model since they cut dealers out of the transaction.

Comments

My car mechanic

[DogDude]

My mechanic is planning on specializing in vintage cars as the electrics start happening. He expects it'll be a pretty quick switch. He says that there will be very little to fix outside of suspensions, and occasionally brakes. Even brakes won't need as much fixing, because electric cars will probably all use regenerative braking. Electric motors, of course, last a very, very, very long time, and generally, they're so cheap that it makes more sense to replace a motor than taking the time to re-wind the coils.

Re:Ah yes. Good 'ol Texas

[dryeo]

Of course it matters if you want to fix the problem. First you need to identify the problem. Which in this case seems to be corruption and not big government as you can have a really small government that does nothing but protect business interests.
One possible fix might be to limit bribery, but that means intruding on peoples freedom.

Re:Mobile repair seems like an awesome service to

[LinuxIsGarbage]

Tesla mobile service is awesome. They come to you and fix the car. Since Teslas don't need any routine maintenance (no oil change, tuneups, etc.), you only need service when something breaks. Again, since the cars are so simple (electric motor, big battery) there's not much to go wrong.
In 75,000 miles, I've only needed service twice. Once for water in a tail light and once for a door handle repair. Mobile service came and fixed the door handle. Fast and easy. (Tail light was repaired under warranty before mobile service was available.)
Auto dealers are pissed at Tesla because EVs don't need any of their overpriced service. So happy I don't have to go to the dealer for oil change, etc.

In my experience modern ICE cars don't suffer a lot of severe powertrain related breakdowns. More than 50% of repairs is stuff that would impact an electric car the same: Tie-rod ends, struts, etc.

Meanwhile Tesla owners seems to have a lot of warranty claims for door handles (WTF? How can these break?) and "Drive Units" (AKA complete powertrain). Teslas actually have a poor reliability rating.

Don't get me wrong, as a nerd I like electric cars. Tesla has made very interesting models, and really pushed range. I'm also perfectly fine with Tesla trying to "disrupt" the dealership model, however there seems to be a reality-distortion-field around them.

Also, I'm a fan of right to repair. Tesla doesn't seem like they are. Third-party repairs? LOL.

Re:Ah yes, good ol' California

[geoskd]

If it was paradise, your numbers would not be falling. I am also looking at you NY

I can't speak about California, but NY used to be a blue collar state. Those days are long gone. Upstate is losing population in droves because there are no opportunities there at all, and NYC is all but unlivable for anyone with an IQ less than 100. Everything I understand about California suggests it is the same there. The "blue" states have policies that are actively driving away stupid people. Other states have policies that appear more welcoming (by way of blue collar jobs), but generally guarantee that the next generation will be no better than the last. That only goes so far, and eventually all of those jobs go to automation anyway.

Just like opportunity, social mobility looks an awful lot like hard work and, in this country, politicians don't have the foresight to know what they are looking at.