An interesting poll on closing the Tesla loophole

Plus Katie Wilson boycotts KOMO and some recommended reading/listening

A friend of the Observer’s tipped us off on a potential bid to close a Tesla-shaped loophole at the ballot box.

This proposal began its life as a public opinion survey from Rivian regarding the state’s direct-sales law, which makes automakers sell their rides through an independent dealership rather than straight to you. Tesla has bucked this system for more than a decade since it got special treatment from the Legislature, which essentially crowned it the EV sales king in these parts. Its industry rivals—Rivian, Scout, and Lucid Air among them—continue to sell their fleets out-of-state in light of their preference to handle repairs in-house and spare their customers from dealer markups. Lawmakers’ latest attempt to nix this situation came up short earlier this year. Hence this latest survey on what Washington drivers think of the status quo.

Photo by Shutterstock