Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill that prohibits direct-to-consumer car sales in Florida, with one notable exception for Tesla.
The legislation mandates that car manufacturers cannot sell their vehicles directly to consumers within the state, requiring them to rely on franchised dealerships for sales.
However, the bill includes a provision that grants an exemption to electric car companies like Tesla, which already operate under a direct-to-consumer sales model. This exemption also applies to other startups in the electric vehicle industry, such as Rivian and Lucid, who have adopted a similar approach.
Tesla’s exemption may not come as a surprise, considering the recent association between Elon Musk and Governor DeSantis. Musk hosted DeSantis’ presidential campaign on his Twitter app last month, and the governor has expressed admiration for Musk, praising him as a champion of free speech. DeSantis has also expressed gratitude for Musk’s substantial investment in acquiring Twitter.
Furthermore, DeSantis’ administration has collaborated with Musk’s SpaceX to bring Starlink satellite services to areas in southwest Florida affected by Hurricane Ian.
Musk has publicly endorsed Governor DeSantis for a potential presidential campaign in 2024. On Twitter, Musk indicated that he believed former President Donald Trump was too old for a 2024 candidacy and expressed confidence in DeSantis, stating that he would have a strong chance of winning against President Joe Biden.
