Georgia Legislation

[Trufflehunter]

Though Georgia is going to welcome Rivian’s job creation, it’s having a more difficult time accepting its business model of foregoing dealerships. Last week it became clear that this was going to be a big issue—article.

how will Georgia residents navigate the purchasing of a direct sale?

Sponsored

 

[ATL_R1S]

As far as I know there are already a bunch of owners with their trucks here and registered. Went by the temporary service center a couple weeks ago to see a full lot of them getting their PDIs done and ready for delivery. There was one with a new vanity plate and current registration sticker already on it. We've got 39 members in Atlanta Rivian Owners on FB with ~3 deliveries completed with a few more on the way this week and next. I could be wrong, but I don't think the current laws make it much more difficult than buying through a dealership, only that the tag/title/registration process is more "DIY" for the owner versus the dealership doing it for you (and charging you for it). Again, I could be wrong, but that's my understanding at this point. Many thousands of Teslas have been sold in Georgia and delivered directly to customers under the same dealer protection laws.

 

[Speedrye]

I can understand not wanting a manufacturing facility in my backyard, but I definitely don't understand supporting the current dealership model.

 

[moosetags]

I don't understand it either. The car selling laws are this way in a number of states. The only reason that I can think of is that the car dealers have the state legislature in their pockets. Car dealers have been ripping us off for a hundred years. They are now panicking that their dishonest gravy train may be coming to an end.

Brian

 

[godfodder0901]

As far as I know there are already a bunch of owners with their trucks here and registered. Went by the temporary service center a couple weeks ago to see a full lot of them getting their PDIs done and ready for delivery. There was one with a new vanity plate and current registration sticker already on it. We've got 39 members in Atlanta Rivian Owners on FB with ~3 deliveries completed with a few more on the way this week and next. I could be wrong, but I don't think the current laws make it much more difficult than buying through a dealership, only that the tag/title/registration process is more "DIY" for the owner versus the dealership doing it for you (and charging you for it). Again, I could be wrong, but that's my understanding at this point. Many thousands of Teslas have been sold in Georgia and delivered directly to customers under the same dealer protection laws.

If it's anything like WA, there isn't any DIY to it. You sign a limited Power of Attorney that allows Rivian to handle the registration for you in your state. Actual sale happens legally in IL, though sales tax is collected based on delivery location by Rivian and transferred to the State. Painless process for me and others in direct sales unfriendly states.

 

[bael]

If it's anything like WA, there isn't any DIY to it. You sign a limited Power of Attorney that allows Rivian to handle the registration for you in your state. Actual sale happens legally in IL, though sales tax is collected based on delivery location by Rivian and transferred to the State. Painless process for me and others in direct sales unfriendly states.

I'm in GA and took delivery Monday - this is exactly what went down for me. Just have to site back and wait for the the relevant paperwork on it to arrive now after Rivian sends it all in

 

[Trufflehunter]

I don't understand it either. The car selling laws are this way in a number of states. The only reason that I can think of is that the car dealers have the state legislature in their pockets. Car dealers have been ripping us off for a hundred years. They are now panicking that their dishonest gravy train may be coming to an end.

Brian

Some of the local dealers have said that customers will no longer get the experience of being cared for by their local dealer... which is something, to say the least. Obviously, it can be both, since they fancy themselves a critical aspect of the "pleasent" customer experience, but I doubt we will see legistlation passed anytime soon.

 

[lefkonj]

This is like creating laws to protect elevator operators or steam engine operators. Progress means things change, some people will be impacted but the greater benefit outlays the loss. West Virginia is trying to pass a law banning over the air updates, requiring a dealer visit.

It is 2022, if the world was like this back in the 70s do we really think companies like Audi or Toyota would want dealers?

 

[Speedrye]

This is like creating laws to protect elevator operators or steam engine operators. Progress means things change, some people will be impacted but the greater benefit outlays the loss.

Kinda like not being allowed to pump your own gas in certain states...

 

[thrill]

Some of the local dealers have said that customers will no longer get the experience of being cared for by their local dealer... which is something, to say the least. ...

God, that's rich. The same pleasant care experience that invented dealer undercoating and fabric protection

 

[kurtlikevonnegut]

Some of the local dealers have said that customers will no longer get the experience of being cared for by their local dealer... which is something, to say the least. Obviously, it can be both, since they fancy themselves a critical aspect of the "pleasent" customer experience, but I doubt we will see legistlation passed anytime soon.

I don't know what I'll do without weekly voicemails from the dealership manager with an urgent message about adding extended warranty service to the car I bought from them years ago.

 

[lefkonj]

Kinda like not being allowed to pump your own gas in certain states...

Dumbasses in NJ just can't pump their own gas. I grew up in NY and lived in CA, pumping gas is fine. want full service pay the extra dime per gallon. Just dumb

 

[p3ck]

Dumbasses in NJ just can't pump their own gas. I grew up in NY and lived in CA, pumping gas is fine. want full service pay the extra dime per gallon. Just dumb

Hey, I was a Petroleum Transfer Technician in highschool. Very difficult job.

 

[Sean]

Not that anyone cares but the anti-plant sentiment in GA is basically being hijacked by a GOP primary challenger who is pretty far behind and is anti-anything the current GOP Governor has done. Even the Dem challenger is pro-Rivan so this is only being propped up until the primaries. Expect the amplification do die down significantly after May.

The Dealer Protection laws have an exception carved out for Telsa, while Rivian's exception was delayed, likely due to the primary challenge. I would expect this to go through next year. In the meantime, its not stopping anyone from getting one and Rivian and other EV only manufacturers will never establish dealer networks.

The law only inconveniences citizens but not enough to still do what they want and otherwise isn't convincing anyone to do anything different than what they are already doing. Further, as has been discussed here and elsewhere, data shows that "open" states dealers actually perform better. So a true lose-lose law on the books but not big enough of an L for anyone to urgently change anything. Everyone up to speed?

 

[Atlrivian]

If you want one person to blame for Georgia not being able to do direct sales, it is Butch Miller.

https://www.legis.ga.gov/members/senate/719?session=1029

He owns dealerships and has almost single-handedly been able to squash this legislation based on various positions of power within the Georgia State Senate. As long as he is in the Senate, I wouldn't hold my breath on this bipartisan legislation passing.

Going off on a tangent, Georgia has a history of very powerful men (lets be honest they have all been men) killing otherwise very popular legislation.

Casey Cagle (our Lt Governor) spent years single-handedly killing direct alcohol sales from brewers. He got an insane amount of campaign contributions from wholesalers and was very effective in paying them back. The legislation for direct sales had something like 90% approval across demographics, but took YEARS to pass because of his intransigence.

https://www.atlantamagazine.com/drinks/its-a-great-time-to-be-a-craft-brewer-just-not-in-georgia/

Sponsored