Horns Down for Sept. 11: Tesla in Texas

The Daily Texan Editorial Board

September 11, 2013

Horns Down: Tesla cars can't be sold in Texas

Texas politicians claim loudly and often to be the champions of the competitive free market, but there are exceptions to every rule. The state government currently prohibits luxury electric car manufacturer Tesla from selling any of its cars in Texas, citing a law that bars auto manufacturers from running their own dealerships. Perhaps not coincidentally, as NPR’s StateImpact Texas reported Tuesday, other Texas car dealers, including Red McCombs, gave almost $1 million in campaign contributions to state politicians before last session. They also outspent Tesla in lobbying on the issue by more than a two-to-one margin.