Lawmakers heard testimony Tuesday on a proposal that would allow electric car manufacturer Tesla to open dealerships and sell directly to consumers in Wisconsin.
A decades-old state law bars direct sales by carmakers.
Supporters of the measure argue allowing Tesla to set up dealerships in Wisconsin will boost the state’s economy by creating jobs and generating sales tax revenue.
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“Tesla, a Fortune 500 company that wants to come to the state and do business here, is not allowed to do business in this state because of the laws that we have,” said Sen. Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, one of the bill’s sponsors.
But opponents argue the change would hurt car dealerships in Wisconsin, by opening up the possibility for manufacturers to bypass them. The proposal would allow any vehicle manufacturer that produces only electric cars to sell directly to consumers.
Some major manufacturers, like Volvo, have expressed interest in transitioning all of their vehicles away from combustion engines to electric power in the coming years.
“This bill isn’t about jobs or economic development,” said Bill Sepic, president of the Wisconsin Automobile & Truck Dealers Association. “It’s a jobs killer.”
Representatives from Tesla said the company isn’t aiming to undermine dealers.
“That system will continue to exist with this bill,” said Jonathan Chang, vice president of legal affairs at Tesla. “But the franchise laws should not be used to block innovation or job creation from new companies entering the free market.”
The bill has yet to be voted on in a state Senate or Assembly committee.
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