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The state Motor Vehicle Commission has unanimously passed a new rule that requires franchised dealers to sell electric cars, as opposed to a direct-to-customer model Tesla uses at two New Jersey retail locations.

(Courtesy of Tesla Motors)

TRENTON

— Should electric car manufacturers like Tesla be allowed to sell directly to customers in New Jersey?

On Tuesday, the state Motor Vehicle Commission unanimously passed a new rule that requires franchised dealers to sell electric cars, as opposed to a direct-to-customer model Tesla uses at two retail locations in New Jersey.

Kevin Roberts, a spokesman for Gov. Chris Christie's office, said Tesla should have gone through the state Legislature.

"Since Tesla first began operating in New Jersey one year ago, it was made clear that the company would need to engage the Legislature on a bill to establish their new direct-sales operations under New Jersey law," Roberts said in a statement.

But Tesla said existing state statutes clearly allow it to sell cars in New Jersey, and that "the only thing that has changed is the Christie administration's sudden decision to go around the Legislature in an attempt to enact a rule that the statute doesn't permit."

Meanwhile, a pair of top state lawmakers say they were caught off-guard by the move and are considering a legislative solution.

"From a policy perspective, we ought to be doing things to encourage the sale of electric vehicles in New Jersey," said state Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex), chairman of the house's transportation committee.

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