It was a big win for Tesla earlier today, as New Jersey Governor Chris Christie allowed the California automaker to sell vehicles from its own dealerships, instead of through conventional third-party dealers.
As Christie approved a maximum of four locations for Tesla dealerships, this ended a long period of legal wrangling that followed a decision from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to revoke Tesla’s dealership licenses in the state. The company has also faced opposition in other states, as dealership organizations and state officials have tried, with mixed results, to block Tesla’s direct sales model, one that cuts out the proverbial middleman and allows consumers to order straight from the automaker.
The move also marked a complete turnaround for Christie, who immediately took to Twitter to announce the passing of the new law. As for Tesla, the company was understandably happy, tweeting about the “huge victory in New Jersey for consumer choice.” Tesla is also hoping for similar bills to be passed in Georgia and Texas, two states that had successfully blocked its business model previously.