One more state turned Tesla-colored this week, as Maryland governor Larry Hogan signed a bill that will allow Tesla to expand its direct sales model to the Ocean State.

Unlike dealer groups in other battleground states, the Maryland Automobile Dealers Association actually supported the bill, probably because automakers covered by the new law are limited to only four dealerships, and are required to sell only EVs.

General Motors, on the other hand, lobbied against the bill, arguing that all automakers should operate under the same rules.

“These laws not only guarantee that people have optimum choice on which vehicles to buy, but also how they buy them,” Tesla VP Diarmuid O’Connell told AutoblogGreen. “These laws will additionally allow companies like Tesla to introduce new automotive technology to more people and educate consumers about the benefits of electric cars. We hope this momentum combined with encouragement from independent entities, such as the Federal Trade Commission, will lead to direct sales in other states such as Connecticut, Michigan, Texas, and Arizona.”

Source: AutoblogGreen
Image: John Gillespie (CC-BY-SA-2.0)