Dealers Sue to Block Tesla Sales in Missouri, from Car and Driver.
The Missouri auto dealer cartel is on the move, trying to prevent citizens of that state from being able to buy a Model S sedan or (when it finally shows up) a Model X crossover. Automotive News reports that the Missouri Automobile Dealers Association filed a suit late last week accusing the state’s Department of Revenue of violating Missouri law by allowing Tesla to sell its cars directly to customers. Shots fired!
The Missouri dealer group claims that, by granting Tesla Motors a license to sell vehicles at its University City location, the Department of Revenue violated state statute. The suit seeks to revoke the license given to that Tesla store (so far, the state’s only Tesla sales facility) and prevent any further licenses from being granted to the electric carmaker. The revenue department has stated that it does not comment on pending litigation.
It’s not the first battle against Tesla the state has seen: Automotive News reported in May of 2014 that an anti-Tesla addendum to a bill regarding all-terrain vehicles was struck down.
