Today Tesla is expected to open its first store in Boston in the Shops at the Prudential Center according to the Boston Business Journal. The opening is part of Tesla’s plan to significantly expand its retail presence in the US with 12 more stores opening during the fourth quarter.The new locations will join Tesla’s extensive network of stores and galleries across the US. Here’s a map of the current network:There are differences between galleries and stores due to direct-sales laws. Tesla is facing regulatory hurdles in some states because of old laws prohibiting manufacturers to sell cars directly to consumers, forcing them to go through dealerships instead of company owned stores. Where these laws are more relaxed, like in New Jersey or New York, Tesla is allowed to have a restricted number of stores to operate, but in the most extreme cases, like in Texas, Tesla employees can’t take potential customers on test drives or discuss pricing in any way.
It’s in these states that Tesla relies on “galleries”, which looks very much like a Tesla store, but where employees can only educate the public on Tesla’s cars and technologies, when they are asked about pricing or delivery information, they refer customers to the Tesla website.
The company also uses “pop-up stores” or “mobile stores”, which can deploy out of a container. Earlier this summer, one of these stores was spotted in the Hamptons.
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Texas stores take riders on test drives all the time. They have cars there and store associates book test drives daily.
So the problem is just about pricing information and delivery? Or does it need to be a test drive event?
Tesla gets permits to do events/test driving schools every weekend in Texas.
You can’t talk price or financing. The “purchase” can’t be in Texas. So you can’t use a credit card. You must have your bank wire the money to CA.
Then Tesla can ship a Model S to a service center in Texas where they can “detail the car.” Then a customer service rep from CA not Texas calls you to pick up the car.
You must take the car to the Texas DMV yourself and pay registration and tax. Usually the “dealership” does that for you.
Thanks for describing the process.
I am Portuguese and I find that Texas thing hilarious.
“Land of the Free”?
Come on Texas, you can do better than that!