Tesla Motors hoping to sell its cars in Connecticut Car company hoping to sell its autos in Connecticut

Roger Van Brussel, a Milford resident and business owner, stands in front of his new Tesla Model S 85 Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, in Milford, Conn. Van Brussel had to leave the state to purchase the electric car but Connecticut is contemplating changing its laws so that Tesla can sell its cars here. Currently, only franchised car dealerships can sell cars in this state, not manufacturers. less Roger Van Brussel, a Milford resident and business owner, stands in front of his new Tesla Model S 85 Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, in Milford, Conn. Van Brussel had to leave the state to purchase the electric car ... more Photo: Autumn Driscoll Buy photo Photo: Autumn Driscoll Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close Tesla Motors hoping to sell its cars in Connecticut 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

When Roger Van Brussel first heard about the Tesla Motors electric car, he was intrigued.

"It's really sort of game-changing technology built into an automobile," said the Wilton resident, whose business, American Dry Stripping, is based in Milford.

But his intrigue soon turned to frustration and disbelief that he couldn't purchase the luxury vehicle in his home state. Connecticut does not allow car manufacturers to also serve as retailers.

Instead, Van Brussel had to travel to The Westchester mall in White Plains, N.Y., to test drive and order the vehicle, which sells for $71,000 and up.

"We live in what I would call a free market society, so why couldn't I go to a Tesla outlet in Connecticut?" Van Brussel said. "Why, in the state of Connecticut, in the state where I live -- and a state that is trying to be more business friendly -- couldn't I go to a Tesla? It's frustrating."

Although Tesla has a service center in Milford, state law prevents the company from selling its cars directly to consumers. As is the case in many states, vehicles must be sold here through independent franchise dealerships.

But that could change this year.

On Friday, Van Brussel will travel to Hartford to speak at a public hearing before the Legislature's Transportation Committee, which is now considering a bill that would open the door for Tesla to get a dealership license here.

As drafted, the bill would make an exception "provided such manufacturer does not have any franchise agreement with any new car dealers in the state, and sells only motor vehicles manufactured by such manufacturer."

James Fleming, president of the Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association, said he has suggested in the past that Tesla CEO Elon Musk open the door to having franchises in this state.

"We want to sell his cars here and we think we can do a better job," Fleming said. "I think letting people who sell cars for a living sell them is better than letting a manufacturer that doesn't really sell them for a living sell them."

Although information on the number of cars Tesla sold last year hasn't yet been released, the company had a target of 35,000 cars.

Founded in 2003, Tesla cars are now sold in 22 states, according to James Chen, vice president for regulatory affairs at Tesla. Chen said selling an electric car isn't as simple as selling traditional cars because people aren't always familiar with how it works. He said it takes on average two to three hours, often over several visits, to educate a consumer on the benefits of buying an electric car.

"So for Tesla to be able to accomplish our mission we have to sell directly," Chen said.

But Fleming argued that it is the dealership that fights for customers when there are recalls, warranty issues or when a manufacturer goes into bankruptcy.

"It's the dealer network that protects the consumer," he said.

Fleming noted that Connecticut is also one of several states that has adopted California's mandate requiring 15 percent of new cars have zero emissions by 2025. Electric vehicles would count toward that mandate.

"We have a great vested interest in trying to sell those vehicles," Fleming said.

Tesla has been investing in its brand for years, but has never made a full-year profit, according to the Associated Press. At an automotive conference last month Musk said the company could reach a profit by 2020, when he predicted it would reach a sales goal of 500,000 cars per year.

Chen said Tesla is not trying to "upend" the franchise system. "We're just seeking the ability to apply for and seek a license like any other dealer" in Connecticut, he said.

The public hearing will begin at 10:30 a.m. in Room 1E of the Legislative Office Building.

ktorres@ctpost.com, 203-330-6321, http://twitter.com/ktorresbpt