The Complex Relationship Between Car Companies, Dealerships, and EV Demand

Many car dealerships in the United States are ill-prepared to sell electric vehicles (EVs), potentially derailing the country's EV boom. Customers have reported frustrating experiences, with salespeople lacking knowledge about EVs and attempting to steer them towards gas-powered cars. Some dealerships do not even offer EVs for sale, despite the Biden administration's goal of having two-thirds of new cars sold in the US be electric by 2032. The dealership model, protected by laws passed in the 1940s and 1950s, may not be suited for the electric future, as EVs have lower maintenance costs and require different sales approaches.