Tesla sidesteps New Mexico ban by building service center in tribal land

[MEDICALJMP]

Tesla sidesteps New Mexico ban by building service center in tribal land
(CREDIT: @350NM/TWITTER)

ByMaria Merano
Posted on September 10, 2021

Tesla has effectively sidestepped a New Mexico law that was barring the company from operating a service center for EV owners in the state. The company was able to work around NM’s ban by building a service center on Native American tribal land.

For the longest time, Tesla owners in New Mexico had to drive out-of-state to centers in Colorado or Arizona just to get their vehicles serviced. New Mexico law prohibits car manufacturers from selling directly to consumers in the state, forcing Tesla owners to seek services in nearby states. However, the new Tesla facility lies within the boundaries of a tribal nation, which means the service center is not subject to state law.


In an event on Thursday, Nambé Pueblo leaders joined US Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján to emphasize the value of electric vehicles as part of a widespread effort to address and battle climate change. While speaking to the attendees of Thursday’s event, Nambé Pueblo Gov. Phillip Perez highlighted the importance of the new EV facility. “This truly represents a historic moment,” Perez said.

New Mexico has long been elusive for Tesla. New Mexico is also home to the active auto dealership lobby group, even though the state law prohibits automakers from selling directly to consumers. Tesla has proposed establishing storefronts and service centers in the past, but these efforts have so far repeatedly failed in the legislature. Discussions about Tesla’s increasing presence in the state have also been the cause of much debate.

Tesla’s service center in New Mexico is a 7,000-square-foot facility that lies in what was previously a casino located near the Nambé Falls Travel Center. Tesla would also be supporting tutors and scholarships for Nambé Pueblo students in the area. Sen. Luján stated that he is extremely excited about the expansion of the EV movement in New Mexico. Having grown up in the area, he also remarked that he is personally looking forward to the Tesla Cybertruck, the company’s all-electric steel pickup.

https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-outsmarts-ban-tribal-land-service-center/
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This is the type of thing people gripe about Musk doing — even here in these forums. “Musk does not like regulations, he sides-steps rules and regulations. He does whatever he wants.” Yep. Do this here in NEBRASKA, please. We have an idiotic law against EV sales here to protect outdated dealerships. We have some tribes with land at our big cities. If they can build and operate (IMO) society-destructive casinos there they can operate a Tesla Service Center or a pick up location so I won’t have to drive 3 hours each way to Kansas City, MO to get my Cybertruck. This is awesome. Brilliant.
Tesla sidesteps New Mexico ban by building service center in tribal land
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[CyberT]

Are there any tribal lands near Austin???

 

[CyberGus]

Are there any tribal lands near Austin???

Texas has very little tribal lands, none near Austin.

 

[fritter63]

Converting a casino into a service center was gamble that paid off!

 

[Pappy]

I live just North of New Mexico, now I know why the are no dealerships close to me???

 

[Ogre]

I find it amusing that some of the harshest dealer monopoly protection laws are in states where they are proudest of their free market economies.

 

[Pappy]

Converting a casino into a service center was gamble that paid off!

Sunray Casino near Farmington, NM would be freaking awesome place to put in a dealership/service center. Durango has a brand new Commercial area near the Hospital that would make another great place.

 

[Bill906]

Sweet loophole. Both Wisconsin and Michigan make it illegal for a car manufacturer to sell directly to the public and both states have many Native American reservations and tribal lands.

 

[Ogre]

Locating a Tesla dealership near a casino is perfect. Then you can pre-order your Cybertruck and take out a bet on when it will get delivered.

You just give them your RN and they give you to odds.

 

[SpaceDoc]

“Society-destructive casinos”? Is that like society destroying subjugation of native Americans? ?

In any event, points well taken. Mr. Musk likes to get sh*t done. Sounds like a win-win-win for Tesla, the tribes, and EV owners. The only losers are the ICE dealers and their paid off politicians. ?

 

[Ogre]

“Society-destructive casinos”? Is that like society destroying subjugation of native Americans? ?

In any event, points well taken. Mr. Musk likes to get sh*t done. Sounds like a win-win-win for Tesla, the tribes, and EV owners. The only losers are the ICE dealers and their paid off politicians. ?

Politicians don't give a F*. They got their Hawaiian vacation or massive car discount or whatever.

 

[firsttruck]

Nambé Pueblo, New Mexico
Nambé Oweenge Pueblo (/ˈnɑːmbeɪ/; Tewa: Nambe Owingeh [nɑ̃̀ŋbèʔ ʔówîŋgè]) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States and a federally recognized tribe of Native American Pueblo people. The Pueblo of Nambé has existed since the 14th century and is a member of the Eight Northern Pueblos.
Coordinates 35°53′5″N 105°57′52″WCoordinates: 35°53′5″N 105°57′52″W
Area 7.7 acres (3.1 ha)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nambé_Pueblo,_New_Mexico


Visiting Nambé Pueblo
https://www.nambepueblo.org/visitors-nambe-pueblo/


Nambe Falls Travel Center
We are a native owned and operated gas station and convenient store.
24hr pump availability
https://es-la.facebook.com/NambeFallsTC

 

[firsttruck]

Are there any tribal lands near Austin???

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Despite the Texas's enormous size, there are only three reservations in Texas today. The Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation is just east of Houston, and the two other tribes – the Tiguas and the Kickapoo are located along the Rio Grande River (Texas state border with country of Mexico).

None near Austin but there is a large amount of tribal land near Houston, TX. The tribe even already has a casino so there is an already established retail/commercial location.

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The Texas Politics Project
Where in Texas are indigenous groups?
https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/archive/html/cult/features/0500_02/indianreservation.html

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Alabama–Coushatta Tribe of Texas is a federally recognized tribe of Alabama and Koasati in Polk County, Texas. The tribe hosts an annual pow wow in early June. These peoples are descended from members of the historic Muscogee or Creek Confederacy of numerous tribes in the Southeastern U.S., particularly Georgia and Alabama.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama–Coushatta_Tribe_of_Texas

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Tribal Enterprises

Naskila Gaming - Casino - Southeast Texas
Naskila Gaming is conveniently located walking distance from Tombigbee Tombigbee Lake, a 15 minute drive from Main Street in Livingston, and an hour outside the city limits of Houston, TX.
https://www.alabama-coushatta.com/tribal-enterprises/naskila-gaming/


Naskila Gaming & 2 Restaurants - The Luckiest Spot in Texas
has Electronic Gaming with 790 Machines, 2 Restaurants, 24 Hours, Giveaways and a Players Club.
https://www.naskila.com/


A.C.T Holdings, LLC is the economic development engine of our Tribe. We envision ACT Holdings as a cornerstone for a strong, diverse, and sustainable economy built on Tribal principles for the benefit of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas and neighboring communities.
https://www.alabama-coushatta.com/tribal-enterprises/act-holdings-llc/


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Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas
https://www.alabama-coushatta.com/

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[Friday]

Are there any tribal lands near Austin???

The Tohono O'odham bought a land parcel hundreds of miles from their reservation and converted it to res land to build their casino in the Phoenix Metro area. So, empty lot or abandoned strip malls could conceivably become tribal lands.

We are entering Snow Crash country now.

 

[Deleted member 12457]

Found this FTC article, https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/com...ws/dealings-supply-chain/manufacturer-imposed. Shows how stupid government thinks people are and how huge automobile manufacturer lobbyists are.

"Reasonable price, territory, and customer restrictions on dealers are legal. Manufacturer-imposed requirements can benefit consumers by increasing competition among different brands (interbrand competition) even while reducing competition among dealers in the same brand (intrabrand competition)."

In my area, a single dealer services multiple car manufacturers so how if that increasing competition? If I want to buy parts, I end up going to the dealer's parts department next door to pay for them. I end up paying for Subaru parts at the Honda dealership (not the right ones but have had this happen--they share the same billing system). How is this even legal? The only thing harming competition is the cut dealers get for doing practically nothing. Everyone knows the MSRP is never what you end up paying and unless you're willing to wait months for exactly the car with options you want you end up getting what's available on the lot or what the manufacturer wants to sell you. It's time to declare the dealer relationship as restraint of trade or something similar and allow manufacturers who want to sell directly to customers to do so. Maybe it's time we petition the US government to force the FTC to get rid of these cartel-like arrangements.

I live in Washington state with many long-time established reservations. These are people who's ancestors actually lived here before WA was settled by non-native people. In most cases, casinos are built on native land which includes more than just the land the casino is built on. Some of these nations actually manage the casinos with profits going to the native people but many are run but outside corporations with little money going back to the reservations to improve their lives, which continue to not be that good. If Tesla wants to do the right thing when building on tribal land, they need to make sure they are not simply taking advantage of the native people but end up helping them in various ways in exchange for service centers. Help them with solar energy farms, donate some cars, add EV charging centers. In other words actually help the economy instead of taking advantage of them.

https://goia.wa.gov/tribal-directory This includes Federally recognized tribes in Washington, Oregon and three in Idaho. This includes one tribe in town (integrated into our community) and one who's reservation borders our town. Both are part of our greater community and not simply a casino destination.