Florida reaffirms car dealers' stranglehold except Tesla
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New law continues to mandate that new cars can only be sold through dealerships (no direct sale from manufacturer to consumer), but carves out exceptions for car makers that have never sold a car through a dealership, ever -- practically the only one that qualifies for that exception today is Tesla.
Not unique to Florida as a matter of practice, just a little surprises that they find it necessary to pass a law to state that.
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Oh no! This changes everything! Damn that FL legislature and DeSantis! This makes me reconsider everything!
Maybe I should put Finley on puberty blockers now while I try to figure this out?
The Brad
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It seems like a victory even if it's something of a compromise. Most states require car manufacturers to make some locals rich so that they can fund their campaigns. Of course they phrase it differently. This has kept Tesla out of many markets.
The local rich people who fund local politicians campaigns, (for simplicity lets call them 'dealers'), always objected to removing the restriction not so much because of Tesla, but because they don't want all the major manufacturers to set up shop themselves and take their riches away.
This is a compromise that allows Tesla in. And many other new EV companies.
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Oh no! This changes everything! Damn that FL legislature and DeSantis! This makes me reconsider everything!
Maybe I should put Finley on puberty blockers now while I try to figure this out?
@LuFins-Dad said in Florida reaffirms car dealers' stranglehold except Tesla:
Maybe I should put Finley on puberty blockers now while I try to figure this out?
If you see a parent so triggered by news about car sales regulations as to threaten to put a child on puberty blocker, would you be concerned enough to report it to state authorities?
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It seems like a victory even if it's something of a compromise. Most states require car manufacturers to make some locals rich so that they can fund their campaigns. Of course they phrase it differently. This has kept Tesla out of many markets.
The local rich people who fund local politicians campaigns, (for simplicity lets call them 'dealers'), always objected to removing the restriction not so much because of Tesla, but because they don't want all the major manufacturers to set up shop themselves and take their riches away.
This is a compromise that allows Tesla in. And many other new EV companies.
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@LuFins-Dad said in Florida reaffirms car dealers' stranglehold except Tesla:
Maybe I should put Finley on puberty blockers now while I try to figure this out?
If you see a parent so triggered by news about car sales regulations as to threaten to put a child on puberty blocker, would you be concerned enough to report it to state authorities?
@Axtremus said in Florida reaffirms car dealers' stranglehold except Tesla:
@LuFins-Dad said in Florida reaffirms car dealers' stranglehold except Tesla:
Maybe I should put Finley on puberty blockers now while I try to figure this out?
If you see a parent so triggered by news about car sales regulations as to threaten to put a child on puberty blocker, would you be concerned enough to report it to state authorities?
Why? It’s a completely safe and reversible step? Puberty is not, so it’s in everybody’s best interest to be absolutely certain, no?
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@Axtremus said in Florida reaffirms car dealers' stranglehold except Tesla:
@LuFins-Dad said in Florida reaffirms car dealers' stranglehold except Tesla:
Maybe I should put Finley on puberty blockers now while I try to figure this out?
If you see a parent so triggered by news about car sales regulations as to threaten to put a child on puberty blocker, would you be concerned enough to report it to state authorities?
Why? It’s a completely safe and reversible step? Puberty is not, so it’s in everybody’s best interest to be absolutely certain, no?
@LuFins-Dad said in Florida reaffirms car dealers' stranglehold except Tesla:
@Axtremus said in Florida reaffirms car dealers' stranglehold except Tesla:
@LuFins-Dad said in Florida reaffirms car dealers' stranglehold except Tesla:
Maybe I should put Finley on puberty blockers now while I try to figure this out?
If you see a parent so triggered by news about car sales regulations as to threaten to put a child on puberty blocker, would you be concerned enough to report it to state authorities?
Why? It’s a completely safe and reversible step? Puberty is not, so it’s in everybody’s best interest to be absolutely certain, no?
Do you think it's completely safe and reversible?
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The finest medical authorities and the Federal government have assured me that it it is…
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By the way, Rivian and Lucid do not have Dealership business model and only offer Direct to Consumer business models as well. I imagine that they are exempt as well…
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And it’s worth a conversational about whether the dealership model adds a level of service and accountability for the consumer that merits some protection? I’m not sure that it does, but it is worth consideration.
I know various piano manufacturers have attempted direct to consumer sales with mixed results at best and outright failures at worst. It’s worth exploring at the least…
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I think it used to, at least to a degree, as so many Americans lived in smaller towns. In the era of the suburb where no one knows anyone else I'm not sure it still holds true. In smaller towns it still does.
I suspect that fully direct to consumer would lead to a Walmart effect, where those who live in more rural areas would have to travel a lot further for purchases and service.
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I think it used to, at least to a degree, as so many Americans lived in smaller towns. In the era of the suburb where no one knows anyone else I'm not sure it still holds true. In smaller towns it still does.
I suspect that fully direct to consumer would lead to a Walmart effect, where those who live in more rural areas would have to travel a lot further for purchases and service.
@Mik said in Florida reaffirms car dealers' stranglehold except Tesla:
I think it used to, at least to a degree, as so many Americans lived in smaller towns. In the era of the suburb where no one knows anyone else I'm not sure it still holds true. In smaller towns it still does.
I suspect that fully direct to consumer would lead to a Walmart effect, where those who live in more rural areas would have to travel a lot further for purchases and service.
I read an article that seemed to indicate that car manufacturers would also likely reduce the low-mid price point vehicles. They saw too much profit on the higher end models and will want to focus solely on that market and let used cars fill the gap. No more new Ford Fiestas, it’s used Fusions for you…
That brings up another potential benefit lost with the death of the dealership. It is valuable to go to a Dealership that operates multiple brands in a large park. Go to their Honda lot, then their GMC, then their Hyundai… You will also see a larger selection of used cars and a higher quality of used than you see at used car dealerships.
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@Mik said in Florida reaffirms car dealers' stranglehold except Tesla:
I think it used to, at least to a degree, as so many Americans lived in smaller towns. In the era of the suburb where no one knows anyone else I'm not sure it still holds true. In smaller towns it still does.
I suspect that fully direct to consumer would lead to a Walmart effect, where those who live in more rural areas would have to travel a lot further for purchases and service.
I read an article that seemed to indicate that car manufacturers would also likely reduce the low-mid price point vehicles. They saw too much profit on the higher end models and will want to focus solely on that market and let used cars fill the gap. No more new Ford Fiestas, it’s used Fusions for you…
That brings up another potential benefit lost with the death of the dealership. It is valuable to go to a Dealership that operates multiple brands in a large park. Go to their Honda lot, then their GMC, then their Hyundai… You will also see a larger selection of used cars and a higher quality of used than you see at used car dealerships.
@LuFins-Dad said in Florida reaffirms car dealers' stranglehold except Tesla:
@Mik said in Florida reaffirms car dealers' stranglehold except Tesla:
I think it used to, at least to a degree, as so many Americans lived in smaller towns. In the era of the suburb where no one knows anyone else I'm not sure it still holds true. In smaller towns it still does.
I suspect that fully direct to consumer would lead to a Walmart effect, where those who live in more rural areas would have to travel a lot further for purchases and service.
I read an article that seemed to indicate that car manufacturers would also likely reduce the low-mid price point vehicles. They saw too much profit on the higher end models and will want to focus solely on that market and let used cars fill the gap. No more new Ford Fiestas, it’s used Fusions for you…
That brings up another potential benefit lost with the death of the dealership. It is valuable to go to a Dealership that operates multiple brands in a large park. Go to their Honda lot, then their GMC, then their Hyundai… You will also see a larger selection of used cars and a higher quality of used than you see at used car dealerships.
Can fix the lack of affordable cars by going back to a form of the old CAFE standards. Manufacturers have to hit a certain fleet mpg number, so they need to move smaller, higher mpg models to do it or face a fine.
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@LuFins-Dad said in Florida reaffirms car dealers' stranglehold except Tesla:
@Mik said in Florida reaffirms car dealers' stranglehold except Tesla:
I think it used to, at least to a degree, as so many Americans lived in smaller towns. In the era of the suburb where no one knows anyone else I'm not sure it still holds true. In smaller towns it still does.
I suspect that fully direct to consumer would lead to a Walmart effect, where those who live in more rural areas would have to travel a lot further for purchases and service.
I read an article that seemed to indicate that car manufacturers would also likely reduce the low-mid price point vehicles. They saw too much profit on the higher end models and will want to focus solely on that market and let used cars fill the gap. No more new Ford Fiestas, it’s used Fusions for you…
That brings up another potential benefit lost with the death of the dealership. It is valuable to go to a Dealership that operates multiple brands in a large park. Go to their Honda lot, then their GMC, then their Hyundai… You will also see a larger selection of used cars and a higher quality of used than you see at used car dealerships.
Can fix the lack of affordable cars by going back to a form of the old CAFE standards. Manufacturers have to hit a certain fleet mpg number, so they need to move smaller, higher mpg models to do it or face a fine.
@Jolly said in Florida reaffirms car dealers' stranglehold except Tesla:
@LuFins-Dad said in Florida reaffirms car dealers' stranglehold except Tesla:
@Mik said in Florida reaffirms car dealers' stranglehold except Tesla:
I think it used to, at least to a degree, as so many Americans lived in smaller towns. In the era of the suburb where no one knows anyone else I'm not sure it still holds true. In smaller towns it still does.
I suspect that fully direct to consumer would lead to a Walmart effect, where those who live in more rural areas would have to travel a lot further for purchases and service.
I read an article that seemed to indicate that car manufacturers would also likely reduce the low-mid price point vehicles. They saw too much profit on the higher end models and will want to focus solely on that market and let used cars fill the gap. No more new Ford Fiestas, it’s used Fusions for you…
That brings up another potential benefit lost with the death of the dealership. It is valuable to go to a Dealership that operates multiple brands in a large park. Go to their Honda lot, then their GMC, then their Hyundai… You will also see a larger selection of used cars and a higher quality of used than you see at used car dealerships.
Can fix the lack of affordable cars by going back to a form of the old CAFE standards. Manufacturers have to hit a certain fleet mpg number, so they need to move smaller, higher mpg models to do it or face a fine.
Great, so they offer the Fiesta Titanium Package…
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The amount of money made on new cars won't keep the doors open on even the busiest of dealerships. At least not in normal times (today's inflated prices are unbelievable).
The money is usually made in the shop and on the used cars. Along with financing and insurance.
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https://www.reuters.com/legal/tesla-loses-bid-overturn-louisianas-ban-direct-car-sales-2023-06-16/
Over in Louisiana, Tesla tried to overturn an existing ban on direct sales to customers and failed.
