By Associated Press - Wednesday, July 19, 2017

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - An automobile dealers’ group in Rhode Island is pushing back against Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo’s expressed interest in bringing Tesla cars to the state.

The Rhode Island Automobile Dealers Association says the governor’s interest in bringing Tesla Motors to the state would be detrimental to small businesses.

WPRI-TV reports (https://bit.ly/2tGKLPe ) Raimondo said Saturday she’d like to bring the electric cars to be sold in-state after a speech by Tesla CEO Elon Musk at the National Governors Association conference.

Tesla sells cars directly from the company. State law in Rhode Island currently prohibits automotive manufacturers from selling directly to customers without using a dealership.

Jack Perkins, executive vice president of the dealers’ group, says the laws are good for small businesses in Rhode Island, and says competing dealers offer better prices.

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Information from: WPRI-TV, https://www.wpri.com

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