Reforming Car Dealership Laws Could Boost EV Penetration
Unlike most consumer products that you can buy from either a retailer or directly from the producer, car sales can only be conducted via dealerships. Seventeen states, including Connecticut, Texas and Wisconsin, have policies that outlaw direct vehicle sales, forcing automakers to sell their vehicles through dealerships. And since these dealerships generally earn less than 10% on the sale of every new car, they earn most of their revenue through servicing, add-ons and car loans. The very nature of electric vehicles (“EV”) makes them virtually incompatible with this sales model. For starters, EVs require less maintenance over their lifetime, meaning…