Tesla To Open Store in Henrico

Tesla Store

Electric car maker Tesla Motors Inc. is moving forward with plans to open a store in western Henrico County by late August.

The California-based company said Tuesday that it is holding a private invitation-only event on Aug. 23 to showcase the store at 9850 W. Broad St. A store opening date has not been set, but a spokesman said it would open in late August.

The company still needs to apply to the Virginia Motor Vehicle Dealer Board to grant Tesla a license to sell its battery-powered cars in the state. 

Tesla plans to do so in the next couple of weeks.

A lawsuit filed by the Virginia Automobile Dealers Association ruling does not affect whether the store can open, Tesla said.

The dealers association, which represents independent, franchise dealerships in the state, opposed Tesla’s application during a DMV administrative hearing last year. 

The dealers group argues that Tesla should be required to sell its cars through independent dealerships, as other automobile manufacturers do, under a state law that prohibits manufacturers from owning dealerships in most circumstances.

Tesla contends that its direct-to-consumer sales model and the technical complexity of its vehicles make it impossible for independent dealers to sell them profitably.

Source: Richmond.com