Car makers and dealers have to get with the program.<\/p>\n
JEFFERSON CITY, MO. \u2014 The Missouri Automobile Dealers Association is suing the state revenue department for allowing electric car maker Tesla Motors to sell directly to consumers rather than using a dealership as a middleman.<\/p>\n
The car dealers, including Reuther Ford Inc. and Osage Industries Inc., filed a lawsuit Thursday in Cole County Circuit Court claiming the department violated state law by licensing the California-based manufacturer as a franchise.<\/p>\n
Department of Revenue spokeswoman Michelle Gleba said the agency doesn’t comment on pending litigation.<\/p>\n
Car manufacturers typically provide cars to a franchised dealership to sell, but the department in 2013 licensed Tesla to sell its vehicles in a University City facility.<\/p>\n
The lawsuit filed this week claims the department “created a non-level playing field where one entity \u2014 Tesla \u2014 is subject to preferential treatment and all bona fide dealers are discriminated against.”\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Read more here<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Car makers and dealers have to get with the program. JEFFERSON CITY, MO. \u2014 The Missouri Automobile Dealers Association is suing the state revenue department for allowing electric car maker Tesla Motors to sell directly to consumers rather than using a dealership as a middleman. The car dealers, including Reuther Ford Inc. and Osage Industries … Continue reading Missouri car dealers sue state over Tesla’s direct sales<\/span>