[SEJeff]

Seems like for a distribution model, Apple would go the way of Tesla and forgo them entirely. In fact, it would be amusing to see Apple fight legal battles that help sell Teslas in states where they've outlawed it due to the huge dealer lobby. If anyone could slug that one out and win, Apple certainly has the expertise and capital to do it.

[zwily]

Tesla will have already won most the battles before Apple starts fighting, I'm guessing.

[ams6110]

Indeed. I would be a little nervous if I were a traditional brick-and-mortar car dealer franchisee right about now. Because if Tesla gets the laws changed, what's to stop the big manufacturers from just selling direct as well.

[greglindahl]

Existing auto manufacturers have signed contracts with their existing dealers. All states have laws that protect those contracts. Tesla is not attacking those contracts and those laws.

Tesla's attacking laws that say that all new autos have to be sold by dealers. That's quite different, and only a few states have such laws.