Dealer Group In Connecticut Creates Website Called “TeslaCrash”

As lawmakers in Arizona debate over whether or not to let Tesla Motors sell directly-to-consumers in their state, Connecticut is also debating the issue. We have reported several times about individual states have been involved in legal and legislative battles with Tesla Motors over that companies desire to bypass dealerships. Connecticut is the latest to get involved, with the battle going online.

The Connecticut General Assembly Transportation Committee heard testimony on February 6^th about allowing Tesla Motors to set up shop in the Constitution state. Jeffrey Aiosa, the owner of Carriage House Mercedes in Connecticut, was quoted in an AP report saying, “The consumer wins if (Tesla founder Elon Musk) opens up his product to our network.” Aiosa was reportedly talking about the prospect of Tesla selling their vehicles through traditional dealerships. While the possibility of Tesla Motors selling directly to consumers and through dealers has been discussed, for the time being, Tesla is interested in only selling their vehicles through their gallery stores and online. That means no dealerships for now and thus Tesla is at odds with the Connecticut Automotive Retailer Association.

According to their website, CARA represents over 250 new car and truck dealerships in Connecticut. They have also created another website specifically tailored against Tesla Motors. It can be found at teslacrash.com. The site’s title reads, “Don’t let Tesla Crash into Connecticut’s Consumer Laws.” The website has a handful of articles related to Tesla vehicles. Some of the subjects covered are accident hazards, an Op-Ed about Tesla working with dealers and a story about a person who crashed a Tesla directly after their purchase.

The question is, will this work? State dealer groups take a lot of heat online whenever they protest Tesla’s arrival in a state — will this website help by informing the public about the many advantages franchised dealerships or will it backfire? Do you think that this attempt at outreach education will prove effective for dealers in that state or cause the creation of more articles about the site, such as this one over at Jalopink?