Courted By Texas, Colorado, & Florida, Tesla Celebrates Opening Of 1st Service Center In Michigan

May 14, 20205 years ago Steve Hanley 0 Comments

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After Tesla’s Elon Musk threatened to pick up stakes and move Tesla headquarters out of California last week, several states have expressed interest in becoming the company’s new home. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott told a local CBS affiliate in Witchita Falls, “I’ve had the opportunity to talk to Elon Musk and he’s genuinely interested in Texas and genuinely frustrated with California,” according to a report by Forbes. The same report says a spokesperson for the governor claims the state has not offered any financial incentives to induce Tesla to relocate there.

Not to be outdone, Colorado governor Jared Polis reached out to Musk on Twitter yesterday to invite him to consider the Centennial State as Tesla’s new home. The Denver Post, naturally, writes more about the tweet.

Hi Jared, Colorado is great! I think your policies make a lot of sense.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 13, 2020

Officials in Florida are also getting in on the fun. Channel 8 News in Tampa reports Jimmy Patronis, Florida’s chief financial officer, and Representative Neal Dunn, who represents Panama City, are trying to bring Elon Musk and Tesla to Florida. Patronis said Tesla could save billions because of the state’s business friendly policies. He also indicated Florida would be happy to make Tesla the state’s official car.

For his part, Dunn wrote a letter to Musk extolling the virtues of the Florida Panhandle. “North Florida has a lot to offer — there’s no personal income tax; less regulations of businesses and corporations; real estate near airports, railroad lines, and ports; and it’s a great area for families.”

First Service Center In Michigan. Showroom To Follow

Tesla Service Center Michigan — Credit: Tesla

Michigan, one state not in the running to be the new home of Tesla, now boasts a new Tesla service center in Clarkston. The town is in the middle of nowhere but is equidistant between Detroit, Flint, Lansing, and Ann Arbor. Situated in an a former Chrysler Jeep dealership (how ironic!), the service center is now open according to the Detroit News and has signs announcing a showroom is coming soon. Until now, Tesla owners needed to drive to Toledo, Ohio; Cleveland, Ohio; or Chicago, Illinois to get their cars serviced or wait for a mobile service technician from Tesla to come to them.

Tesla Service Center. Photo by Zach Shahan/CleanTechnica

The arrangement is the first fruit of the agreement the state and Tesla struck last January after Gretchen Whitmer (Dem) took over as governor and settled the lawsuit Tesla had filed against the state. When the showroom is open, potential Tesla customers will be able to test drive vehicles and find out more about the Tesla experience. If they decide to buy, they will still have to take delivery in another state, register the car there, then drive it home and register it again in Michigan.

Elon, Here’s A Suggestion

That last part is so patently absurd, it begs for someone bold to blow up this stupid dealer franchise law system in the United States once and for all. Let’s see. Who do we know who is bold and has suddenly taken up the cause of liberty? Oh, right. Elon Musk. Why not apply that same spirit to dealer franchise laws?

Tell Greg Abbott in Texas, “Repeal your stupid, fascist dealer franchise law and I will consider moving my headquarters there.” Concerned citizens, all of whom are suddenly constitutional law experts, were marching outside the Fremont factory this week waving American flags and spouting about freedom and liberty. Why not leverage that enthusiasm to drive a stake through the heart of dealer franchise laws everywhere? The Tweeter in Chief would support such a campaign. Within a few weeks, the entire dealer franchise system in America could crumble and Tesla could have unfettered access to tens of millions of new customers.

“There comes a time in the tide of all men’s lives which, taken at the flood, leads on to victory,” William Shakespeare wrote. Your personal narrative is now at the flood, Elon. Carpe diem. Strike a blow for freedom right now this very moment while you are riding high. You may never get a better chance to slay the hated franchise dealer laws you have been fighting against for almost a decade. Do it, Elon. We double dog dare ya!