Ep. 174: Scout Motors vs. Dealers: The Battle Over California Franchise Laws

*Published this one so fast, I didn't even edit it!* The California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA) is slamming the brakes on Volkswagen and its EV sidekick, Scout Motors, with a lawsuit spicier than a jalapeño-fueled road trip. The charge? Violating California's franchise laws by attempting to sell vehicles directly to consumers. Ellena Sweet, a third-gen dealer, CNCDA board member and Chief Compliance Officer at Stevens Management, explained that Scout Motors knowingly opposed the 2023 franchise law amendment that would make their direct-to-consumer model illegal. The lawsuit seeks to halt Scout's sales in California and impose a $2,500 fine for each deposit taken, totaling approx $35 million. The core issue centers on manufacturers being prohibited from competing directly with their franchisee dealers, with VW’s bankroll and Scout’s “affiliate” status stirring the pot and being a key point of contention. There's gonna be so much more to this conversation, subscribe to the show to stay up to date!

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Read the full lawsuit here: https://www.cncda.org/wp-content/uploads/4024-04-22-FILED-Complaint_Case_InitiationVolkswagen.pdf

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Connect with Elena:

https://evs4everyone.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaciccotelli/

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Connect with Ellena Sweet on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellenawoodhams/