Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) received approval to expand the number of its company-owned stores to sell electric cars directly to consumers in Pennsylvania.
The electric car manufacturer has been fighting against auto dealers across the country lobbying to prevent the expansion of its operations to sell directly to consumers.
According to Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA), lawmaker in the lower chamber of the State of Pennsylvania passed the legislation allowing the increase of the number of its stores and service centers in the state. The lawmakers in the Senate of Pennsylvania approved the legislation last week.
Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) is now allowed to operate as much as five stores to sell its electric vehicles in Pennsylvania. The lower chamber voted 197-2 in favor of the legislation. The legislation still requires the signature of the governor.
In a statement, Diarmuid O’Connel, vice president for business development at Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) said, “We hope the process in Pennsylvania serves as an example for how productive cooperation can lead to a win for all parties involved, dealers and legislators included.”
Las month, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a legislation the resolves the dispute between Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) and the New York State Automobile Dealers Association and the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association. The law allows the electric car manufacturers to maintain its five licensed stores in the state. It also provides opportunity for Tesla to establish additional stores under a strengthened dealer franchise law.
The New Jersey Assembly also approved a similar legislation that allows direct sales of zero-emission vehicles. Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) is covered by the law because its Model S is a zero-emission vehicle.
Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) received a “perceived quality” award for the Model S electric car last month. The electric car manufacturer also obtained the highest score in Total Quality Index by Strategic Vision, a research firm based in southern California.
“Tesla built a vehicle that generated love in attributes that were most important to segment buyers,” according to Christopher Chaney, senior vice president at Strategic Vision in a previous statement.
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