Martin, who owns two Teslas and stock in the company, has become a citizen advocate, taking trips to talk with legislators in Richmond. Tesla has faced fierce resistance in Virginia from the state’s Virginia Automobile Dealers Association, arguing that state law bars manufacturers from selling their cars directly to customers. Tesla, which has stores in Northern Virginia and the Richmond area, says that its unique business model of selling its new cars for a single uniform price online and in stores, wouldn’t be possible via the traditional dealership method, and the state’s DMV Commissioner has generally agreed.