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Tesla appears to be winning direct sales battle in Missouri

Last week, it looked like Missouri would join the list of states where Tesla Motors would not be allowed to sell its all-electric vehicles directly to consumers. Without warning, language was inserted into a bill about off-road vehicles what would have prevented direct sales in the state. Tesla called it a "sneak attack" and tried to get supporters to let lawmakers know the law was a bad idea. "It is not clear that the statues apply to a seller like Tesla" – Missouri Department of Revenue Thanks to some digging by Tesla fans over at the Tesla Motors Club, it became clear that one of the main drivers of the anti-Tesla legislation was conservative state senator Mike Kehoe, a former Ford and Lincoln-Mercury auto dealer. For some time, Kehoe has been asking the Missouri Department of Revenue if Tesla should have gotten a license to operate its one store in the state (in St. Louis) and said that the automaker's moves were, "clearly designed to circumvent the traditional franchise model for the distribution and sale of new motor vehicles." The DOR responded by saying, "It is clear under Missouri law that traditional manufacturers who already have franchised dealerships in the state may not sell cars directly to consumers. It is not clear that the statues apply to a seller like Tesla, which apparently has not entered into franchise relationships with independent dealers." After Kehoe got that response, it seems, he added the language to the bill. You can read the bill here. The tide may be turning against the proposed law, though. Tesla has apparently hired 10 lobbyists to makes its case. Local newspaper The Kansas City Star published an opinion column yesterday in support of the automaker. "As a business offering something new and better for the environment overall, Tesla should have been given allowances to operate in a different way in the state," the paper wrote. And the state House Republican majority leader, John Diehl, says he has no plans to move the bill forward because lawmakers are worried it would put a limit on the free market and have unintended consequences. Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2014/05/12/5019618/missouri-house-leader-not-fond.html#storylink=cp

Autoblog Minute: VW financial woes continue, Tesla Model X dazzles

Volkswagen sees its financial woes continue, and Tesla reveals the all electric Model X crossover. Autoblog's Greg Migliore reports on this edition of Autoblog Minute Weekly Recap. Update: The post has been updated to show the complete range of estimated MPGe specs for the Model X P90D and not just the 92 combined MPGe. Show full video transcript text [00:00:00] Volkswagen sees its financial woes continue, and Tesla reveals its all electric Model X crossover. I'm Senior editor Greg Migliore and this is your Autoblog Minute Weekly Recap. Volkswagen has been removed from the DOW Jones Sustainability Index, or DJSI. A decision that takes effect on October 8th. Removal from this key index is yet another black eye for the embattled automaker and it [00:00:30] indicates VW's fall as a company leads the way in economic, environmental and social performance. Ever since the emissions scandal broke the world's top selling automaker's stock has struggled. Reports estimate VW's losses to be a staggering 30.8 billion dollars. Tesla rolled out the Model X this week. A live web-stream showed us what to expect. Like, how the Falcon Wing doors adapt to tight parking spots and low garages. Towing capacity [00:01:00] was also demonstrated. The CUV is said to be able to haul 5,000 pounds, while carrying 7 passengers and luggage. Still, there was no mention of how towing would affect battery life or the range of the all electric crossover. The Model X also boasts a giant air filtration system with a "Bioweapon Defense Mode," a feature that is said to protect passengers against bacteria, harmful gasses and as Elon Musk joked, possible apocalyptic events. [00:01:30] Stay tuned. According to early EPA estimates, the Model X 90D has a range of 257 miles with 90 MPGe city, 94 highway and 92 combined MPGe. Those are the highlights from the week that was. Be sure to check out my full weekly recap this Saturday. Plus I'll have some added insight into Mazda's new sports car. For Autoblog, I'm Greg Migliore. Autoblog Minute is a short-form video news series reporting on all things automotive. Each segment offers a quick and clear picture of what's happening in the automotive industry from the perspective of Autoblog's expert editorial staff, auto executives, and industry professionals. Tesla Volkswagen Crossover Diesel Vehicles Electric Autoblog Minute Videos Original Video vw diesel scandal

Tesla's Musk could build flying or submersible car

You sometimes get the impression that Tesla CEO Elon Musk says wild things just to gauge people's reactions. You have to be crazy to think that the Hyperloop is ever going to happen. Train travel is barely accepted in much of the country. Recently, he boasted in an interview with Britain's The Independent newspaper that he could build a flying car and a submersible one. If he's to be believed this time, one of them might actually happen.
"We could definitely make a flying car - but that's not the hard part. The hard part is, how do you make a flying car that's super safe and quiet? Because if it's a howler, you're going to make people very unhappy," said Musk to the newspaper. Obviously, the flying car has been an automotive dream for decades, but it has always been so disappointing. Even the long-delayed Terrafugia Transition needs a runway to takeoff and can't just pop in an out of traffic like we all want.
While the flying car likely remains a pipe dream, Musk seems much more serious about the prospects of a vehicle that can go underwater. He told The Independent: "We will be making a submarine car. It can transition from being a submarine to a car that drives up on the beach. Maybe we'll make two or three, but it wouldn't be more than that." The man does have some experience in this area. He bought the submersible Lotus Esprit last year from the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me, and planned to install a Tesla Model S powertrain in it. Now, let's see if either of these big ideas ever comes to fruition.