re: Ford CEO: We’ll Move to Fixed Prices

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Well now hold on. Can’t Ford sell direct to the end user via a “national account”? I thought one of the reasons manufacturers didn’t sell direct is because they can’t provide service on a local level? (And they really don’t want to. They just want to manufacture.) .Seems you’re complaining about a preference not a “protection”.

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It is 100% a protection. The NADA is constantly lobbying to keep dealership laws on the books, using a number of questionable justifications.

It depends on the state but in most states, car manufacturers cannot legally sell directly to consumers. Some states have added exceptions for EV’s, largely to allow Tesla sales.

I have no problem with manufacturers selling through dealers if that’s the business model they would prefer. Right now we don’t know whether the market actually supports that business model, though, because it’s mandated by state governments.