OLYMPIA — A bill that would allow electric car manufacturer Tesla to open additional stores in Washington is headed to Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk.
Senate Bill 6272 passed through the House Thursday by a 94-2 vote and passed the Senate in February. Under the measure, Tesla would be able to expand in Washington beyond its two stores in Seattle and Bellevue.
Initially the bill, which also clarifies existing laws between car manufacturers and dealers, had language that would have prohibited Tesla from expanding because of its status as a manufacturer and not as a dealer. The company sells cars directly from the manufacturer to the consumer.
The bill in its current form would not allow other car makers to operate in the same manner as Tesla.
