New York Moves to Shutter Tesla Dealerships in Blow to Musk

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Daily Beast

Updated Apr. 27 2025 7:02PM EDT
Published Apr. 27 2025 3:49PM EDT


Lawmakers in New York state are moving to shut down Elon Musk’s Tesla dealerships in yet another blow to the billionaire CEO. New York State Sen. Patricia Fahy and other lawmakers are fighting to remove a waiver that allows Tesla to operate five in-person dealerships in New York, instead forcing the company to sell their vehicles through dealer franchises, The New York Times reported Sunday.

“No matter what we do, we’ve got to take this from Elon Musk,” Fahy said in March when she first introduced the bill against Tesla. “He’s part of an effort to go backwards.” She wants the company to relinquish its five licenses and instead distribute them to other EV manufacturers, such as Rivian, Scout Motors, and Lucid.

Fahy was a champion of electric vehicle companies like Tesla opening in-person dealerships in New York, saying that an increase in EV sales would help cut emissions in the state.

She now joins a growing number of Democratic officials and legislators who have drastically changed their tune on Tesla following the 2025 election, when Musk joined forces with Trump.

Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/new-york-moves-to-shutter-tesla-dealerships-in-blow-to-musk/

[littlemissmartypants]

1. Bwwahhahahahaha!!!

I❤️NY

[erodriguez]

2. Call me crazy but I think everyone should be able to buy a car directly from the manufacturer

[Red Mountain]

3. There should be options

but I see now what I didn't before.....dealerships can actually help protect consumers.

Hear me out. They provide a layer of customer service that is lacking in a direct to factory model.

When something goes wrong they're there to advocate for their customers.

Not that there aren't bad dealers but ideally you'd have options to pick another within a reasonable distance if you were unhappy with your first choice. Not so with the direct to factory model.


Might help avoid this sort of thing:


https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/2024-tesla-cybertruck-damage-long-term-wrapup.html

Our Tesla Cybertruck Test Ended With a $58,000 Repair Bill
Or, the One-Year Road Test that wasn't

[cadoman]

9. cyber "truck" truck destroyed by fender bender with compact sedan, news at 8

I'd be embarrassed to send an invoice like that if I were Muskrat. Thank you to our local dealerships for treating us right when things go wrong with our vehicles!

[erodriguez]

12. Sure but I've dealt with dealerships and found them pretty shady

Buying from a dealership adds costs since they need to be paid too.

[ShazzieB]

14. What a hunk of junk! 🤣

The more I hear about the cyberpunk, the more it sounds like a very bad joke.

And that's on top of the fact that looks like one. I keep forgetting how stupid looking it is, but I don't think I'll forget again after reading that article and looking at those pics!

[rickford66]

7. My Dad did this when I was a kid back in the 50's

He had a friend with a small used car lot. I washed cars there for a while. My Dad ordered an early 50's Chevy and a 56 FORD from Detroit and had the car carriers drop them off at his friend's lot. Essentially wholesale cost plus shipping.

[cadoman]

8. bet you would love that e(lon)rodriguez

But seriously, great move by Hochul and another win for Democrats in NY. Car dealerships are foundational to a safe and enjoyable car buying experience in America.

[Polybius]

11. The good part about Tesla dealerships are that the cars are non-negotiable

The price you pay is the price that is stated online. You don't have to negotiate with crook car salesmen.

[Bengus81]

4. They're not dealerships,they're showrooms and are banned in 11-12 States already

Kansas is one of them. Leon as usual is too fucking cheap to have a real dealership which hires people,does service etc. Fuck that guy,and his cars. I'd never buy one IF I could.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. You just made me think of

something like "Carvana" (except with new cars).

[Old Crank]

5. Good,

Companies need to have a level field to compete. Not get welfare.

[Miguelito Loveless]

10. California should follow suit

as should Canada, Mexico, and the EU.

[elocs]

15. There are no Tesla dealerships here in Wisconsin---it's against the law.

Which explains why Musk was so interested in the state supreme court race here because he has a case about that winding its way through the courts.