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What will he think of next? Elon Musk found a way around that pesky ban on direct sales by launching a Tesla store on tribal land. The state of New Mexico officially has a Tesla store and service center for owners in the state. While it doesn’t seem like a big deal, it is for those who drive the EV in the state.

Elon Musk brought Tesla to New Mexico after all

Elon Musk brought Tesla to New Mexico after all
Elon Musk brought Tesla to New Mexico after all | Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Years ago, New Mexico adopted a law that only allowed automakers to sell vehicles through a franchise network. But back in 2019, Teslarati reported that a bill called the “Tesla Bill” went through legislation. The Tesla bill allowed vehicle manufacturers such as Tesla to become a dealer and sell vehicles directly.

There were a few stipulations to the bill. The business didn’t have any franchises in the state already, it sells and services only the vehicles the company manufactures, and the sales must be electric vehicles or battery electric vehicles. Some time passed, and a Tesla store did not happen. Until now, that is. Tesla was able to bypass the ban and opened a store and service center on tribal land.

You can visit the Tesla showroom and service center in Santa Fe, NM

According to Electrek, the new Tesla showroom and service center is in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on tribal land. It is the first of its kind between Tesla and Nambé Pueblo. The building is an old casino that has been repurposed to house the electric vehicle dealer. However, such a move isn’t an easy one. The service center can only work if enough Tesla owners are nearby to utilize it.

Previously, Tesla opened a service center in El Paso, Texas, close to the border shared with New Mexico. Based on the reception online and in-person at the new facility, it appears Tesla owners in New Mexico are pretty pleased about the new store. The Tesla Owners Club of New Mexico is particularly delighted with this new addition to the area.

Tesla encourages owners to keep up with maintenance and having to travel out of state to do so is not conducive to having an up-to-date vehicle.

This is good news for owners in the state

With the automotive industry in shambles as it currently stands, this might be a good way to capture a new segment of buyers. The Tesla Owners Club of New Mexico has almost 600 thrilled members and growing as it stands right now. Previously, Tesla owners had to travel out of state to get service. These days, Santa Fe is the new Tesla epicenter. Hope in your Model S Plaid and hit the road.

If you are in the area, the newest Tesla Santa Fe showroom is located at 17730 US Highway 285, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87506. Hopefully, more of these showrooms are on the way for those who might not live in the area. Checkmate, Elon Musk.

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Amanda Cline

Amanda Cline is an avid fan of Formula 1 and joined MotorBiscuit in 2021. A Southwest Floridian, she easily and often finds automotive events to attend in the Tampa, Orlando, and Miami areas.
Amanda is a graduate of the University of Central Florida, where she earned a Bachelor’s in English Literature and a Master’s in Technical Communication. Combining her editorial and digital media expertise, Amanda served as a content creator for FanSided and now provides our readers with a variety of automotive subject matter like pickup trucks and SUVs, including valuable consumer advice.

Amanda closely follows many F1 drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team. Her all-time favorite author is Shel Silverstein.