Michigan’s Republican governor, Rick Snyder, signed a bill on Tuesday that will keep Tesla Motors, the electric car maker, from selling cars directly to customers in the state. The law simply clarifies that no car manufacturers can directly sell in the state; all cars must be sold through franchised retailers.
No big deal, right? Well, not exactly. Michigan is now the 5th state with this rule. It also bans Tesla from operating “galleries,” or places where potential customers can go to view Tesla cars. They cannot discuss prices, take orders or take cars on test drives in these galleries.
The state’s Senate passed the bill 38-0, and the state house passed it 106-1. Tesla isn’t mentioned by name, but it’s clear that the legislation is directed at the company...
