Tesla and other electric car makers may find it difficult to open new company-owned stores in Mississippi in the future.
After a nearly two-hour debate among lawmakers, the House passed Bill 401 by a vote of 38-14.
The bill is now on its way to Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves' office.
- House Bill 401 is controversial.
- If the law is passed, electric car makers like Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid would be mandated to sell their cars through a licensed dealership.
- Today's electric vehicle makers typically sell their electric vehicles through company-owned stores.
- In a statement to WJTV 21 News, Sen. According to Jeremy England, the bill is simply bad policy.
- He also stated that Mississippi is sending the wrong message by passing the bill.
- This could result in the country losing out on what could be profitable investments.
- "We're telling electric vehicle manufacturers who use a different sales model that their sales model is not acceptable in Mississippi," he added. If you have to go to a broker and go to a dealership, that raises the cost by a 5% increase in the cost that is charged to the broker just on that."
- Sen. Jeremy noted, "I think we're sending the wrong message. I think we're telling them, 'Look, we're going to do things the old-fashioned way here in Mississippi. Good luck in the other states."
- Supporters of the bill have indicated that it would ensure that all automakers operate by the same rules, regardless of their business models.
- However, Senator Jeremy argued that states like Nevada, which allow companies like Tesla to sell their cars through company-owned stores, have recently seen huge investments of billions of dollars.