Tesla Motors Club

Everyone - Help get the word out. Before you leave this post saying 'not my issue, I'm not in CT', could you take a moment and retweet (if you're on twitter) or just post about this to facebook (if you have a fb account) or just tell anyone you know in CT about this (hopefully you have some friends ).

here's a link (or write your own!) Bonnie Norman on Twitter:




Just this morning, I was thinking that if I were GM (maybe still a bit of a lingering nightmare there, because thank god I'm not GM) and the dealership lobby, I'd do my best to start moving up hearings and schedules and make everything happen at once.

And guess what? I'm sorry to say ... yep, that's what's happening in Connecticut. Same day as stuff in Utah. But we don't care. We can cover both. And more.

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Oh, and without any notice, the CT Auto Dealers Association, along with GM (shocker) held a press conference this morning at 11am. I guess they wanted to control their version of the story. See my tweet at the bottom of this page to the Hartford Courant newspaper .
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So here's what's happening:

This is for a bill that will actually open up the state to Tesla sales. Its HB 3 before the Transportation Committee chaired by Rep. Tony Guerrera.

The hearing is only the first step to opening up Connecticut. Its informational for the Committee and there will be no vote until later the next week when the Committee meets to review testimony (oral and written) from the hearing. As a result, there is time still to influence beyond the hearing.

Below is what Tesla sent out to Connecticut owners (some who have already said they'd attend - thank you!):

Tesla Supporters and Enthusiasts:

On March 2nd at 10:30AM at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, the Transportation Committee is holding a public hearing on a bill that will allow Tesla to sell its cars in Connecticut.

This is great news! And while we've been fortunate to gain the support of Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff and Transportation Committee House Chair Tony Guerrera, we need your help.

We invite you to get involved, and let legislators in Hartford know exactly why allowing Tesla to sell its cars is not only good for the Connecticut economy, but also for the state's long term environmental goal of reducing emissions.

If you can't attend, you are welcome to write or call Transportation Committee members who will participate in the hearing. You can find their contact details at www.cga.ct.gov/tra/

And if you want to stay updated with our progress, visit www.TeslaCT.com

Thanks in advance for your support!

Legislative Office Building
300 Capitol Avenue
Room 2E
Hartford, CT 06106

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Tweeted to the Hartford Courant newspaper this morning before the last minute dealership press conference, in the hopes that IF they write about this, they modify any dealership weak sauce arguments:



- - - Updated - - -

Thread title date is wrong. It is 3/2, not 2/2. I've asked a moderator to fix.

Not enough coffee this morning!

- - - Updated - - -

Here's a taste of what the Connecticut dealerships did last year:

Connecticut Auto Dealers Appear At Capitol To Protest Tesla Bill - Hartford Courant

He said dealers "can sell cars better for Tesla." He also contends existing franchise laws provide protections to consumers.

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Connecticut Car Dealers Have A Stupid Anti-Tesla Website To Scare You

The alarmingly-named Tesla Crash website has a logo with a wrecked car (not a Tesla) and blood-red, splattery typography. You'd think it'd be a warning site about how Teslas have a secret "Murder Mode." It's really just a bunch of Connecticut car dealers afraid of not getting to make more money.

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