Dealers are on the forefront of selling cars with advanced technologies. In 2013,
franchised new-car dealers sold the lion’s share of the country’s pure electric vehicles
(EVs) and virtually all of the country’s plug-in electric and hybrid electric vehicles. (The number
of EVs sold last year more than doubled to approximately 47,600 units but still represents only
.03% of the overall U.S. vehicle market.) Of the EVs sold last year, nearly 29,000 were sold by
franchised new-car dealers (60.5% of the market), including vehicles such as: the Nissan Leaf;
MZB Smart; Fiat 500e; Scion iQEV; Chevy Spark EV; Ford Focus EV; Mitsubishi i-MiEV; Honda
Fit EV; and Toyota RAV4 EV. In addition, franchised new-car dealers sold nearly 49,000 plug-in
electric vehicles and 490,000 hybrid electric vehicles. Tesla sold approximately 18,900 Model S
units in the U.S. last year and no plug-ins or hybrid electric vehicles. Tesla has suggested that,
as its sales rise, it may well consider franchise dealerships.