Could this bill prevent electric cars from being sold in Mississippi?

Production line of R1 platform Rivian electric trucks.

A bill that could continue to keep the electric powered auto industry from growing its footprint in the point out of Mississippi is now a person phase absent from turning into legislation, right after passing the Mississippi Senate on Thursday.

Household Monthly bill 401, which experienced both equally bipartisan guidance and opposition, would make clear the state’s franchise guidelines to say that auto providers cannot function their have dealerships and will have to rather do the job with franchisees. That would straight conflict with the business model utilized by electric car or truck corporations like Tesla and Rivian.

Tesla’s existing locale in Brandon is grandfathered in and could carry on to operate, but the company could not extend its footprint.

Electric powered car or truck companies could open up dealerships in Mississippi if they have been eager to improve their business models. That said, in a January job interview, Rivian’s Senior Plan Advisor Beau Whiteman stated the company is not heading to swap to a franchise model, this means if Gov. Tate Reeves symptoms the bill into regulation, Rivian will successfully be barred from opening a dealership in Mississippi.