Tesla is exempt...
> The change confirms newer manufacturers like Tesla, Rivian and Lucid are authorized to hold a franchise dealer license for direct sales of EVs if they are not otherwise prohibited under federal law. That carve-out apparently does not extend to traditional manufacturers such as GM, Ford, Honda and Toyota, all of which now make battery-powered cars.
It's basically a protection racket for existing dealerships for traditional automakers, to ensure they don't get any bright ideas to avoid ~~middleman~~ dealership markups by directly selling the vehicles.
Dealers are in the loop
edit: It's true.
""" But as Florida Politics noted previously, lobbyists, including Taylor Biehl and Jeff Sharkey of Tallahassee-based Capitol Alliance Group, hammered out a deal adding language to the bill that should keep Tesla galleries open.
The change confirms newer manufacturers like Tesla, Rivian and Lucid are authorized to hold a franchise dealer license for direct sales of EVs if they are not otherwise prohibited under federal law. That carve-out apparently does not extend to traditional manufacturers such as GM, Ford, Honda and Toyota, all of which now make battery-powered cars. """
They are now in the same relationship but are using politicians to maintain the status quo relationship. It definitely is not a healthy sign for the efficiencies of business in the USA.