Virginia Governor McAuliffe appointed a Tesla Motors Inc. employee to a board that oversees automobile dealers, and here’s what happened:
- The Governor became former governor before Senate confirmation
- The Virginia Automobile Dealers Association vocally opposed the appointment
- The Senate Committee rejects the appointment.
Background of direct sales in Virginia: The commissioner of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles permitted Tesla to open a company-owned store. The Auto Dealer Association filed a lawsuit in response.
What opposition arguments were made by the Auto Dealers Association?
- The appointment violates state law because the Tesla appointee is neither an owner or top executive of a car dealership.
- An employee cannot hold the appointment.
What was the response from Tesla representatives?
- highly unusual if not unprecedented
- the vote to reject the appointment “raises basic questions of fairness and improper political influence”