[BPt111]

Tesla want to sell cars in CT but there battle with state

"Tesla’s upstart Greenwich franchise has hit a pothole, with the state Department of Motor Vehicles issuing a cease and desist order to the electric car manufacturer on its Connecticut sales."

"The DMV says that Tesla is illegally selling cars from a storefront on the town’s main shopping thoroughfare, which the Silicon Valley company refers to as a gallery.


DMV puts the brakes on Tesla

[MrGompers]

This is really dumb. If I want a Tesla I can go to NY or MA and buy one. Its not going to stop CT residents from buying a Tesla nor is it going to get CT residents to spend that money on a different car brand. Which is probably what the dealers association is thinking.

What I think would be great and really funny is to build the Tesla showroom on the street in Greenwich that is half on the CT side and half on the NY side. I think this is RT 120 but I'm not sure since I'm not familiar with Greenwich.

Have the "showroom/info center" on the CT side, have the sales on the NY side. Case closed.

As an example, I know in the past on the Merritt Prky next to the NY line, at one of the rest stops they were selling cigarettes from a converted ice cream truck on the CT side, but the gas was sold on the NY side. [CT's cigarette tax is lower than NY's]

[beerisgood02]

Originally Posted by MrGompers

This is really dumb. If I want a Tesla I can go to NY or MA and buy one. Its not going to stop CT residents from buying a Tesla nor is it going to get CT residents to spend that money on a different car brand. Which is probably what the dealers association is thinking.

What I think would be great and really funny is to build the Tesla showroom on the street in Greenwich that is half on the CT side and half on the NY side. I think this is RT 120 but I'm not sure since I'm not familiar with Greenwich.

Have the "showroom/info center" on the CT side, have the sales on the NY side. Case closed.

As an example, I know in the past on the Merritt Prky next to the NY line, at one of the rest stops they were selling cigarettes from a converted ice cream truck on the CT side, but the gas was sold on the NY side. [CT's cigarette tax is lower than NY's]

Yes, on King Street. Put it near the airport.

[AntonioR]

Just across the border in Port Chester and on route 1 is a small commercial building for lease. Perhaps Tesla can sign a contract with the owner and have the building remodeled to allow for big windows so the cars can be seen from the street. Also to make the architecture more appealing. Across the street is a Nissan dealership and the CT/Greenwich border is a stone throw away.

Some images from Google Earth and Google Street View. The white line behind the building is the NY/CT border.







About two weeks ago I passed through there on my way to Rye and avoiding a traffic jam on I-95 and noticed the For Lease sign on that building. As far as I know, all Tesla cars are special orders, so not much room is needed for a dealership. Just the showroom to show the handful of models that company offers and enough parking for the few employees, customers, and for the cars shipped and waiting for owner pick up.

[JayCT]

I know this has to do with the laws here that prohibit car manufacturers from selling directly to the public. Tesla has been battling this for several years but lawmakers are refusing to budge. What they need to think about is that they are losing tax revenue if the Tesla is bought in New York. Teslas are not cheap so the more that are sold out of state to Connecticut residents, the more money they are losing. Unfortunately our lawmakers are stuck in the past. Jay

[MrGompers]

Originally Posted by JayCT

I know this has to do with the laws here that prohibit car manufacturers from selling directly to the public. Tesla has been battling this for several years but lawmakers are refusing to budge. What they need to think about is that they are losing tax revenue if the Tesla is bought in New York. Teslas are not cheap so the more that are sold out of state to Connecticut residents, the more money they are losing. Unfortunately our lawmakers are stuck in the past. Jay

That's not entirely true. If someone buys a Tesla or other brand of car and wants to register it in CT they have to pay sales tax. However, if someone has a NY address and can register there then CT wouldn't see the sales tax. I can't imagine this would effect many people though nor CT's tax coffers in the long run.

Tesla has a sub $40k car in the wings, and if Tesla can keep up with production they will be selling like crazy IMO. In turn CT will be forced to worry about the potential for lost tax revenue.

[blakesq]

This thread is a perfect example of "government is not the solution, it is the problem!"

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by MrGompers

That's not entirely true. If someone buys a Tesla or other brand of car and wants to register it in CT they have to pay sales tax. However, if someone has a NY address and can register there then CT wouldn't see the sales tax. I can't imagine this would effect many people though nor CT's tax coffers in the long run.

Tesla has a sub $40k car in the wings, and if Tesla can keep up with production they will be selling like crazy IMO. In turn CT will be forced to worry about the potential for lost tax revenue.

The buyer would only pay sales taxes to Connecticut if the sales tax they paid was lower than our state tax. Otherwise Connecticut gets nothing. Jay

[Stylo]

It's ridiculous. Time to move on from the past.

[East of the River]

Yeah CT is a holdout on reforming the law. The simple answer is a compromise, car makers pick dealer or direct and that's it, that's where most states are now,but the dealer lobby here in CT wants it all.