No, you won’t get pulled over for driving your Model S on the Turnpike. But if rules passed yesterday by New Jersey regulators and backed by GOP Governor Chris Christie take effect, you won’t be able to visit a Tesla store in the state.
In an effort to protect traditional car dealerships, New Jersey is trying to shut the electric car maker down before it ever gains traction.
This isn’t the only place where Tesla is battling such bans. Across the country, powerful car-dealer lobbies with their hands in politicians’ pockets are fighting the Silicon Valley company, trying to hold on to monopolies protected by outdated laws. But there is some solace to be taken in the New Jersey decision: It calls attention to the hypocrisy of supposed free-market politicians propping up an unloved industry at the expense of real competition.
