Texas legislative issues/Operation Silent Thunder

[ggies07]

So a bill has been introduced in the current session to address this issue:

ftp://ftp.legis.state.tx.us/bills/83R/billtext/html/senate_bills/SB01600_SB01699/SB01659I.htm




It is up for public testimony on Wednesday, 4/3/13 at 8am in the transportation committee.

Sweetness! Thank you to everyone who helped make a difference!

 

[hcoon2000]

I'll start my calls today. Just to start setting expectations for the rest of us, could some Texan who has recently received their car or is in the process go through the steps? Specifically can you confirm:a) that payment must be made in before Tesla will ship the car, b) that taxes won't be included on the paperwork from Tesla and as a result, lenders won't include taxes on in the loan amount, c) whether or not a Tesla Delivery Specialist was allowed to accompany the car and if not, if they showed up later or how much later.

Thank you

Hi Steve,

1) I made my payment before Tesla shipped the car. Taxes were not rolled into the finance cost. I had the pleasure of discovering that after delivery when I tried to get my license plates. First time I paid $6,800.00 for a license plate.
2) Tesla gave the car to UPS and told me to expect delivery December 19th. After that no Telsa employee involvement. Car did not arrive until January 7th, a day I was not in town. I had notified Tesla that I was away Jan 6th-10th and I could not take delivery. Thank goodness for neighbors.
3) After driving the car for a week I was able to make contact with a Tesla specialist who walked me through the features over the phone since they did not have permission from the state to do this personally.
4) The car is great. The acquisition process sucks. I thought the Great State resisted onerous regulations. Proof the sunset commission has a purpose. They should sunset laws in addition to useless/redundant agencies.

 

[TXjak]

INAL, but I'm wondering if Tesla has a non-TX store that will qualify as a "dealership" as defined in this area of the Texas law.

 

[jerry33]

INAL, but I'm wondering if Tesla has a non-TX store that will qualify as a "dealership" as defined in this area of the Texas law.

has never sold its line make in the United States
through an independent franchised new motor vehicle dealership,

I don't see how. No stores are independent or franchised.

 

[Thumper]

So far so good. Good luck with the actual enactment. Keep up the pressure.

 

[doug]

Tweet from Elon: Twitter / elonmusk: If you support Tesla in Texas, ...

Elon Musk ‏@elonmusk
If you support Tesla in Texas, please contact your state Senate or House member. Free enterprise! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighty-third_Texas_Legislature

 

[stephenpace]

At a minimum, please look up both your state Senator and Representative and contact them and ask them to support the bills this week. We'll provide more detail as soon as we learn more.

Who Represents Me--Home

For those near Austin, and if you have time on Wednesday, it would help if some owners stopped by the Capitol on Wednesday and expressed support for the bill in the Senate (S.B. No. 1659).

 

[dsm363]

You can even sign their guest log book (called dropping a card or something) that says you support the bill and then leave before the meeting starts at 8AM. As Stephen said, we're finding out more information and will update this thread later. Hope people can show up or at least make calls.