I'm wondering whether people in California think it would be worth agitating for a modification to how California thinks about and collects Use Tax on vehicle sales. As we know, the current policy amounts to a "no-out-of-state driver pickup at the factory" policy (first charged CA sales tax, and then get to pay sales tax again in the state the car gets registered in). As an out-of-stater, that's annoying as I would like the option to pickup my new Model X at the factory, get the tour, and go on a bit of a road trip to return home (especially once the supercharger network is built out). But enough about me - it seems to me that the policy is also costing California sales tax and other tourism related economic benefits. If California had an option to not collect sales tax on car purchases that will be registered out of state, then you would create the possibility of that whole pickup-new-car at the factory tourism business. As Tesla begins shipping cars to Europe and Asia, why not make California a destination for vacationing families from Europe and Asia who come to America to pickup their car, drive it around for a few weeks (mostly in California), seeing the sights, visiting theme parks, etc.. As people do with European cars, then take them to a third party, or back to Tesla, to package up the car and ship it "home". Sounds a lot like the BMW and other European manufacturer experience doesn't it? Except now it's happening in California primarily (good excuse for a Supercharger over Grand Canyon way, and other fantastic West Coast sights). For those of us living in the states, some number would use this as an opportunity for an EV road trip. And every one of those road trips and vacations would start in California. As an outsider, it looks to me like California is intentionally trying to keep this cottage industry from coming into existence, and that doesn't seem smart. Heck - make it a special case - that car manufacturers making a sale of a new car that will be registered out of state, have access to a new temporary tag (say 3 weeks) that can't be renewed, and which doesn't carry Use Tax consequences. The California DMV can even collect a few bucks that aren't otherwise available.
I made the same argument in another thread about the time that deliveries started, and suggested that we could write our repsenatives. Everyone I wrote thought it was a good idea, but I believe it will need some push from Tesla to make it happen. Here is a list to begin: California Senators Senator Barbara Boxer Tel: (202) 224-3553 Website: boxer.senate.gov Senator Dianne Feinstein Tel: (202) 224-3841 Website: feinstein.senate.gov San Francisco Congressional Representative 8th District: San Francisco Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Washington DC Office: (202) 225-4965 District Office: (415) 556-4862 Website: http://www.house.gov/pelosi/ If you are not a San Francisco constituent of Congresswoman Pelosi's, but wish to contact her in the context of her role as Speaker of the House, use this form: Contact the Speaker | Speaker.gov Bay Area Congressional Representatives 6th District: Marin County and Sonoma County Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey Washington DC Office: (202) 225-516 Marin Office: (415) 507-9554 Sonoma Office: (415) 507-9601 Website: woolsey.house.gov 7th District: Richmond, San Pablo, Martinez, Benicia, Pittsburg, Concord (see district map) Congressman George Miller Washington DC Office: (202) 225-2095 Concord Office: (925) 602-1880 Richmond Office: (510) 262-6500 Vallejo Office: (707) 645-1888 Website: georgemiller.house.gov 9th District: Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, Piedmont, Ashland, Castro Valley (see district map) Congresswoman Barbara Lee Washington DC Office: (202) 225-2661 District Office: (510) 763-0370 Website: lee.house.gov 10th District: Parts of Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, and Sacramento Counties (see district map) Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher Washington DC Office: (202) 225-1880 Walnut Creek Office: (925) 932-8899 Antioch Office: (925) 757-7187 Website: http://www.tauscher.house.gov 11th District: Danville, San Ramon, Dublin Pleasanton (see district map) Congressman Jerry McNerney Washington DC Office: (202) 225-1947 Pleasanton Office: (925) 737-0727 Stockton Office: (209) 476-8552 Website: mcnerney.house.gov 12th District: South San Francisco, San Mateo County (see district map Congresswoman Jackie Speier Washington DC Office: (202) 225-3531 San Mateo Office: (650) 342-0300 Website: speier.house.gov 13th District: Alameda, San Leandro, Hayward, Union City, Fremone (see district map Congressman Pete Stark Washington DC Office: (202) 225-5065 Fremont Office: 510-494-1388 Website: http://www.house.gov/stark 14th District: Portions of San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties(see district map) Congresswoman Anna Eshoo Washington DC Office: (202) 225-8104 Palo Alto Office: (650) 323-2984 or (408) 245-2339 Website: eshoo.house.gov 15th District: Much of the central, northeastern and southwestern area of Santa Clara County (see district map Congressman Mike Honda Washington DC Office: (202) 225-2631 Campbell Office: (408) 558-8085 Website: honda.house.gov Don't forget Jerry Brown (Gov) http://gov.ca.gov/home.php
That's the exact reason why Euro Delivery is a business model for BMW and MB (others too). I did Euro Delivery on a BMW once and it was a great vacation -- drove from Munich to Amsterdam. CA should adopt it -- even if its just for factory deliveries to out of state buyers (not any car bought at a CA dealership).
Lloyd, I believe this would fall under our state assembly and and state senate, not the US senate or house of representatives. Welcome to the California State Assembly | Assembly Internet California State Legislature