State Sen. Shirley Turner looks to overturn ban on direct sale of electric cars
TRENTON — After Gov. Chris Christie pulled the plug on the electric car in New Jersey, state Sen. Shirley Turner is looking to give the vehicle another spark.
Turner (D-Mercer/Hunterdon) introduced legislation Monday to allow consumers in the state to buy electric cars directly from the manufacturer after the state Motor Vehicle Commission banned companies like Tesla from selling the vehicle.
The longtime 15th district senator said the decision to ban the direct sales has been widely criticized and harmful to the state’s economy and its environment.
“The Christie administration’s ban on direct sales will take a real toll on the state’s economic future and its environment,” Turner stated in a press release. “We should be attracting a new industry like electric cars to New Jersey and supporting consumers who are looking for environmentally-friendly vehicles, not standing in their way and sending them to other states to spend their money.”
Turner stated Tesla Motors business model depends on direct sales to customers.
Earlier this month, the state decided all vehicles must be purchased through franchised retail dealers, ultimately eliminating sales at Tesla store locations in New Jersey.
Turner said consumers can now instead go to surrounding states to purchase the gas-efficient vehicle.
“We need to be creative to attract innovative industries to our state and help position ourselves for the future, but the governor has unfortunately decided that inflexibility is the better course of action. And now he is pointing fingers at the Legislature instead of taking responsibility,” Turner added. “Now, the Legislature must act to reverse the administration’s decision and help support an industry that offers so much promise.”