Florida Governor Ron DeSantis endorsed a law preventing most automakers from adopting a direct-to-consumer sales model, reinforcing the importance of traditional car dealerships. This law was drafted by lobbyists of the Florida Automobile Dealers Association (FADA), initially excluding, but eventually accommodating, electric startups like Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid. 🛑
FADA maintains that dealerships act as customer advocates for warranty work and service. Dave Ramba, a FADA representative, argued that bypassing dealers would result in higher prices and poorer service. The law further regulates automakers' influence over dealer inventory and pricing, restricting their ability to favor certain dealerships.🛡️