RALEIGH (AP) — North Carolina auto dealers say they’re moving ahead with a bill updating franchise laws without a provision that effectively bans the business model of electric car manufacturer Tesla.
But those dealers haven’t given up on a separate bill targeting the automaker that already passed the Senate.
Bob Glaser of the NC Automobile Dealers Association said Thursday that the group wants to advance non-controversial portions of the bill updating franchise dealer laws. But the provision preventing manufacturers from direct online or phone communication with customers is still alive in a separate bill that passed the Senate unanimously last month.
Tesla sells its award-winning electric cars directly to customers and has faced barriers in other states.
A House committee tacked on the franchise changes to an unrelated bill earlier this week.