Yup, Christie again. NJ shuts down Tesla showrooms.

[KamaAina]

http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/new-jersey-moves-to-shut-down-tesla-sales-despite-protests-183753241.html

Oh sure, the Tesla Model S may be the "best car sold in America" per Consumer Reports, and it may be a Wall Street darling and perhaps the only electric vehicles for which demand exceeds supply. But that didn't stop regulators in New Jersey from ordering Tesla to shut down its stores by April 1 because the company doesn't use dealers like every other automaker.

In a hastily called meeting packed with Tesla supporters, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission approved several rule changes that essentially shut down Tesla's two factory-direct stores in the state — not only barring automakers from selling without dealers, but also the mall showrooms that Tesla had used in place of a traditional stand-alone dealership....

Tesla attempted to drum up support among its customers, but said in a blog that it was given less than 24 hours notice of the meeting where the commission would hold its final vote. It also accused the administration of Gov. Chris Christie of backtracking on pledges to let Tesla argue its case in the public forum of the New Jersey legislature.

[Loudly]

1. Local auto dealerships have undue regulatory power here in Illinois too.

Nobody in the business of selling cars is allowed to be open on Sunday.

[Historic NY]

2. So much for FREE MARKET....

[unblock]

3. can't they just spin off the showroom as an "independent dealer"?

[wandy]

4. Teapublican democray. Will it be coming to you're state? nt

[uponit7771]

5. Just as bad as the bridge IMHO

[KamaAina]

7. Maybe he's trying to thin out the bridge traffic

by keeping all those Teslas off the road.

[okaawhatever]

11. The fact that Tesla is a project funded by gov't energy loans, same as Solyndra, gives the

Republicans extra reason to try and make it fail. Remember Romeny and Ryan both said, "Obama always picks losers, like Solyndra. He picked Tesla for goodness sake."

I think the Repubs don't want that to be a big campaign ad in 2014. The fact that the Dealers association funds the Republican party heavily is a big part of it, too.

Any surprise it is Christie doing this? His approval can't go too much lower, so they might as well use him to gain traction on the issue.

[liberal N proud]

6. Extortion is live and well in America

And nowhere demonstrates that better than Chris Christies New Jersey.

[stevenleser]

8. Tesla didn't pay their 'fee' to the Christie campaign. nt

[Fumesucker]

10. Unlike quite a few Democrats in the state..

[Spitfire of ATJ]

9. I guess there are a lot of Republicans that started out as used car dealers.

[riqster]

12. They didn't use the Christie-provided 9/11 steel in the cars.

[Jimbo101]

13. Interesting paragraph from an R.A. Heinlein Short Story

"There has grown up in the minds of certain groups in this country the notion that because a man or corporation has made a profit out of the public for a number of years, the government and the courts are charged with the duty of guaranteeing such profit in the future, even in the face of changing circumstances and contrary to the public interest. This strange doctrine is not supported by statute nor common law. Neither individuals nor corporations have any right to come into court and ask that the clock of history be stopped, or turned back."

- Life-Line by Robert A. Heinlein, 1939

[iandhr]

14. Correct me if I am wrong but haven't Telsas had a few safety problems lately?

[KamaAina]

15. Well, yes, but so did Pintos back in the day

and I do not recall any locality attempting to ban Ford dealerships. This is all about $$$.

[iandhr]

16. Fair point

[SDjack]

17. Dealerships can be very profitable and a great source for political campaign donations. nt