2023 Tesla Model 3 on 2040-cars

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'Pro-Tesla' bill in Pennsylvania gets Auto Alliance to end neutral stance

Unlike dealership groups all over the country, one automaker group isn't taking issue with Tesla Motors being able to sell its electric vehicles through company-owned stores in Pennsylvania. But the idea of no limits on its number of stores? That's a problem. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers – which has been neutral on the Tesla dealer fight thus far – is now squawking about a recent law in the Keystone State allowing the California-based company to sell cars through its stores there, Automotive News says. The group doesn't have a problem with the idea in general, but the fact that there's no cap on either the number of stores Tesla can operate or how many cars it can sell there is causing the Alliance to speak out on the issue. And while the Pennsylvania Automotive Association is okay with the new law, the Alliance is alleging a non-level playing field in favor of Tesla. Tesla declined to comment to AutoblogGreen. The prospect of Tesla skipping over the third-party dealer franchise phase has garnered plenty of recent attention, especially from regulators and dealership representatives. Last month, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) urged Missouri and New Jersey to change policies that would further prohibit car makers like Tesla from selling their vehicles directly to customers and without a third-party dealership. In April, FTC officials called called the prohibition of direct company-to-customer sales "protectionist" and "bad policy."

2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year: Tesla Model S [w/video]

Eleven cars enter, one car leaves. Silently and with zero emissions.
Tesla has earned one of the most coveted prizes in the automotive world, as its Model S has taken home the Golden Calipers as the 2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year. In the process, the Model S beat out a field that included 10 other contenders.
In case you were wondering, this is the first time an electric car has earned this accolade. No internal combustion here, folks. In an impressive run the Model S was also named Automobile Car of the Year and one of the 25 Best Inventions of the year by Time Magazine.

If Tesla Model 3 is successful, Sergio Marchionne will copy it

Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne hasn't hidden his disdain for electric vehicles, but he would copy the Tesla Model 3 if it is successful, according to Automotive News Europe. If Elon Musk "can show me that the car will be profitable at that price, I will copy the formula, add the Italian design flair and get it to the market within 12 months," Marchionne told Automotive News Europe during FCA's annual meeting in Amsterdam. In terms of pre-orders, the Model 3 is a success. Musk tweeted on April 7 that the company had over 325,000 reservations for the sedan, which he estimated were worth around $14 billion. The car will start at $35,000 before incentives. Marchionne, however, isn't optimistic Tesla can actually make the electric sedan work financially. "I'm am not surprised by the high number of reservations but you have then to build and deliver them and also be profitable," he told ANE. The FCA boss is a noted skeptic of EVs. In 2012, he said that the company only built the 500e because of California's zero-emissions vehicle mandate and to give engineers experience with the technology. He doubled-down in 2014 when he claimed FCA lost $14,000 on each 500e and said he would rather people didn't buy them. More recently, he infamously said "you'd have to shoot me first," before he'd allow a fully electric Ferrari. Related Video: