Wisconsin Governor Vetoes Tesla Stores

[Curt Renz]

Wisconsin governor vetoes portion of budget bill that would allow Tesla stores and service centers:

Alter Viggo on Twitter

Strangling Innovation: Tesla vs. 'Rent Seekers'

 

[MD-2000]

The other thing we tend to miss - dealers take a hefty bite out of the price of a car (Any wonder the local major brand car dealer tends to be one of the "rich guys" in small to medium towns?). So the equivalent to a Tesla (sorry, ha ha) like those Jaguar's or Audi's will automatically cost at least 10% more.

 

[TomServo]

But what about Service Center's. Don't need a "STORE" if you by into the "BUY ON-LINE" model.

 

[MD-2000]

But what about Service Center's. Don't need a "STORE" if you by into the "BUY ON-LINE" model.

There are plenty of service centers for assorted cars that are not affiliated with dealerships or even specific brands. Telsa has the roving service vehicles for items that require access to more of the inner workings of the car. Dealer service is another cash cow for dealers. Thye get paid - plus profit - for fixing manufacturer defects.

The other thing about Tesla - an ICE engine is a Rube Goldberg contraption that heats up to 400 degrees regularly; whereas the main thing about an EV is its simplicity - no carburetor or fuel injector, no fuel pump, no spark plugs, no ignition timing, no starter or starter solenoid, no pistons or rings or crankshaft bearings or oil pan and oil pump, no water pump or radiator with superheated water, no muffler or catalytic converter or emission control setup, no transmission or clutch, etc. (Yes the batteries are immersed in coolant and thee's a radiator, but the temperature range involved is far less than an ICE engine).

All those things listed can go wrong on a regular car. Any of them fails, it means a trip to the car doctor. A helluva lot fewer repairs are needed with an EV. The other source of auto service needs is collisions and as assorted cars (not just Tesla) become smarter and implement collision avoidance, that will be a smaller market too.

Add to that, the internet has disrupted a lot of bricks and mortar retailing - why should anyone be surprised it's come around for automobiles too? The only drawback is that cars are like clothes - alot of people want to try it out before they buy, hence the "Galleries" and Tesla's 7-day trial. (But a lot of people buy clothes online.)

Is it any wonder the auto dealers see the writing on the wall? They are trying to put off the change as long as possible.