Tesla can now start selling its electric cars to drivers in New Jersey thanks to Governor Chris Christie, who signed a bill into law on Wednesday that allows the direct sale of zero-emission vehicles in the Garden State.
Under the new law, no dealerships are required, and companies selling directly to consumers must maintain service centers where they sell cars and report sales figures to the state, according to the Associated Press.
The move follows a year after the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission made it mandatory for cars to be sold through franchises, which received heavy criticism from Tesla CEO Elon Musk at the time. Musk said the company didn't sell through franchises due to gasoline-powered cars being responsible for most of their revenue. As a result, Tesla didn't see a reason sell electric cars.
"I said last year that if the Legislature changed the law, I would sign new legislation put on my desk and that is exactly what I'm doing today," Christie said in a statement, Business Insider reported.
"We're pleased that manufacturers like Tesla will now have the opportunity to establish direct sales operations for consumers in a manner lawfully in New Jersey," he added.
Christie was given 45 days to make a decision to sign the bill and signed it only two days after he received it from legislators, AP reported. His decision received praise from Democrats including Assemblyman Lou Greenwald, who referred to the move as a "win-win" for people living in New Jersey.
The law applies not just to Tesla, but to all automakers that don't have agreements with franchises, Engadget reported. The electric car maker can now pick "up to four" spots in the state to sell its cars.
Tesla has yet to respond to a request to comment on the new law.
