Tesla called the move "an affront to the very concept of a free market" in a
blog post on Monday, saying that the proposal "would, among other things, require
all new motor vehicles to be sold through middlemen and block Tesla’s
direct sales model." The EV manufacturer argues that the Administration
and New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission are "going beyond their
authority to implement the state’s laws at the behest of a special
interest group looking to protect its monopoly at the expense of New
Jersey consumers."
Kevin Roberts, a spokesman for the office of NJ governor Chris Christie
responded by saying that the
"administration does not find it appropriate to unilaterally change the
way cars are sold in New Jersey without legislation and Tesla has been
aware of this position since the beginning."
So in a nutshell, Tesla wants to push forward with its direct sales
model, while the government wants to protect the traditional model where
cars are sold through franchised dealerships.