Connecticut's goal is to put at least 150,000 electric cars on its roads by the year of 2025. You may think they would want as many dealerships in the state as possible right? Wrong. "Connecticut has a strict dealership franchise law made in the late 1950s which was intended to protect independent dealers from abusive practices at the hands of vehicle manufacturers." Daniel Gatti says from The Equation. What you may not know is that these laws  continue to  prohibit vehicle manufacturers from owning dealerships licensed under themselves.   

You may also be asking, well why doesn't Tesla sell through franchised dealers? This is because Tesla has their own policy made by Elon Musk that says that independent dealerships don't work well for electric vehicles. "Existing franchise dealers have a fundamental conflict of interest between selling gasoline cars, which constitute the vast majority of their business, and selling the new technology of electric cars." Gatti says. 

Electric car companies like Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid are not allowed to sell cars as manufacturers directly to buyers in the state of Connecticut. Market research has demonstrated that advertising that targets a sense of touch, is much more effective than what we see on a screen. Based on these findings, customers will be significantly more likely to buy a car when they have the opportunity to see and test drive it in person. Allowing vehicle Manufacturers To own and run dealerships for electric cars would be a game changer in Connecticut. These cars  are more environmentally sound and are more likely to attract young professionals interested in living in a technologically advanced and modernized State.  Those who already own Tesla’s and other electric cars will be more likely to consider moving to Connecticut knowing they will be able to find ample charging stations and maintain their vehicles at certified electric vehicle repair shops.  

The State of Connecticut has the opportunity to change this outdated legislation and become an innovator in the Northeast. With gasoline prices soaring and no end in sight, we have the opportunity to build the infrastructure now which would support the purchasing, charging, and maintenance of electric vehicles.   With some foresight now, we can utilize this opportunity to bring more tech jobs to Connecticut, attract young professionals and contribute our part to saving the Earth. 

Sources: 

https://blog.ucsusa.org/daniel-gatti/why-you-cant-buy-a-tesla-in-connecticut-and-5-other-states/#:~:text=But%20in%20fact%2C%20Tesla%20is%20legally%20prohibited%20from,may%20only%20be%20purchased%20through%20independent%20car%20dealerships