NAIAS officials confirmed to local Detroit news that Tesla pulled out of the North American International Auto Show “at the last minute”. Tesla’s presence was confirmed on the NAIAS’ floor plan for months. The news comes while Tesla is still not allowed to sell cars in Michigan since the state government “clarified” a direct sale law in 2014 by removing one word from the bill, which now prevents Tesla from operating its own stores in the state.Tesla had a presence at the show every year for the past few years – the picture above is from Tesla’s booth at NAIAS 2015. The company also skipped the recent LA Auto Show and doesn’t appear on the list of participants for CES 2016, which is taking place right before NAIAS and becoming increasingly popular with auto manufacturers.
Even though Tesla generally prefers to make announcements at its own events, up to now the company maintained a presence at the major international industry shows. They were at the Guangzhou Auto Show last month and they had a booth at the Frankfurt Motor Show earlier this summer.
The Detroit Auto Show is taking place at the Cobo Center starting January 9 with an offsite showcase of luxury cars and the media previews for the official show start January 11. It opens for the public January 16.
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Since Tesla also didn’t participate in the LA Auto Show, it’s hard to think there is a causal link between not being in the Detroit Auto Show and not being allowed to sell cars in Michigan. There also doesn’t seem to be much of a link between Republican lead state government and free enterprise. Funny how watching what people do gives you so much more insight than listening to what they say.
There’s something different than with the LA Auto Show though. With NAIAS, Tesla had already signed up and then they pulled out. Also I’m not saying it is linked because obviously I don’t know, but I think it is worth mentioning that they are still not allow to sell in Michigan.
Definitely worth remembering. I can’t understand Tesla doing a speck of business in states that put roadblocks in their way, but they have a wider view that me and I wish them well.
Yeah if it is the reason, it is not a good reason in my opinion.
Tesla is voting with their feet and rightly so. Why should Tesla give Michigan any business under the circumstances? Tesla is getting the same “SHAFT” treatment as the “BIG THREE” gave Tucker Auto decades ago and De Lorean more recently. Local money buys local politics. Some things never change!