Tesla Gets Direct Sales License in Kentucky After Years of Struggle
TapTechNews August 11th news, after years of wrangling with the state of Kentucky, Tesla has finally achieved a major victory. The state government recently officially granted Tesla a direct sales license, meaning that this electric vehicle giant will be able to sell vehicles directly to consumers in Kentucky without going through the traditional dealer channels.
Previously, Kentucky's regulations required that vehicle sales must go through the dealer system, and Tesla's direct sales model has been restricted. Although Tesla has been able to sell vehicles in the state, but the leasing business and some vehicle after-sales services have been prohibited.
According to the list of car dealers updated by the Tesla Owners Association and the state of Kentucky on Friday, Tesla has obtained the official sales license of the state. The address of its service center in Louisville has also been included, indicating that Tesla may soon establish a physical store and service center in the state. Previously, consumers in Kentucky could not lease a Tesla vehicle, and vehicle maintenance also needed to be done across states.
With the acquisition of the sales license, Tesla's plan to establish a physical store and service center in Louisville is expected to be accelerated. TapTechNews noted that the company has begun to recruit positions such as sales consultants, vehicle preparation specialists, sales managers, and service technicians. Industry insiders predict that in the next few years, Tesla may also open a store in Lexington.
Tesla has always been committed to challenging the traditional car sales model and has adopted various strategies to bypass the direct sales restrictions in other states. For example, in Connecticut, Tesla cooperated with the local Mohegan Indian tribe to open a store on tribal land, thereby circumventing the dealer law. In addition, Tesla has also had legal disputes with dealer groups in multiple states, including suing the Louisiana state government to prevent it from performing warranty repairs.