- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill banning direct-to-consumer car sales.
- But the bill leaves a notable exception for electric car companies like Tesla.
- DeSantis has a cozy relationship with Tesla CEO Elon Musk who hosted DeSantis’ presidential campaign launch on Twitter.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill this week that keeps automakers using dealerships — with one notable exception for Elon Musk’s Tesla.
The measure bans car manufacturers from selling directly to consumers in the state and instead requires them to rely on franchised dealerships.
But there’s a carve-out in the legislation for electric car companies like Musk’s Tesla to continue selling directly to their customers without having to use a dealership.
Musk, who also owns Twitter, hosted DeSantis’ presidential campaign launch on Twitter Spaces last month.
After a glitchy start, DeSantis formally launched his 2024 campaign on an audio-only forum and answered questions on issues ranging from his ongoing feud with Disney to his crusade against so-called “woke” ideology.
The Florida governor heaped praise on Musk, calling him a “free speech advocate” and thanking him for shelling out billions to purchase Twitter.
DeSantis’ administration also struck a deal with Musk’s SpaceX last year to set up Starlink satellite services in parts of southwest Florida that had been affected by Hurricane Ian.
Musk, meanwhile, has publicly expressed support for DeSantis’ 2024 bid, writing in a tweet that former President Donald Trump — who is currently the GOP frontrunner — is too old for a 2024 run and that DeSantis would “easily win” against President Joe Biden.
