HARTFORD — A bill that would allow electric-car maker Tesla Motors to sell directly to Connecticut consumers is accelerating through the legislative process.
The General Assembly’s Transportation Committee on Wednesday voted 25-to-3 in favor of the proposal, which is expected to be further negotiated as the legislative session continues.
If ultimately approved, the bill would take effect on Oct. 1.
Tesla’s vice president of business development, Diarmuid O’Connell, released the following statement:
We appreciate the careful review and hard work undertaken by the Transportation Committee. Their vote today moves Connecticut one step closer to not only allowing one of the nation’s most sustainability driven and innovative companies to do business in Connecticut, but to also helping bring new, needed jobs, tax revenue and economic development to the state.
Rep. Antonio “Tony” Guerrera, the committee’s co-chairman, has been trying to negotiate a deal between Tesla and the Connecticut Automotive Retailers. He called the Tesla “one of the best cars” he’s ever driven, but wants to make sure any final agreement doesn’t “wipe out a whole other industry.”
The car dealers claim the proposal would create a massive loophole in the state’s current auto franchise law and put 13,000 jobs at risk.