ALBANY, N.Y. -- Electric automaker Tesla is hoping to expand its dealerships across New York and promises to bring stores -- and, with them, about 25 jobs apiece -- to Upstate cities if state legislators pass a law introduced Friday.

The Assembly bill would allow Tesla to build 15 new stores across the state. The bill requires Tesla to open five of them north of New York City, including one each in the Syracuse, Buffalo, Albany, Rochester and upper Hudson Valley areas.

Three years ago, Tesla was prohibited in state law from opening more than five stores in New York City due to a conflict with traditional auto dealers. Tesla sells its own vehicles to customers directly unlike other auto dealerships, and traditional dealers fought the bill out of concern about competition.

The bill, introduced by Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle (D-Irondequoit), would allow Tesla to build the new stores as long as they build in Upstate New York and that the stores offer maintenance and repair services.

A Tesla spokesman said the new dealerships would bring about 25 jobs with them to staff the sales and service ends, in addition to a several million dollars in investment.

The company would also give free charging stations to local hotels or restaurants if they agreed to offer up a parking spot and pay for the electricity that Tesla owners use to charge their cars.

There are about 6,000 Tesla owners in the state, and the spokesman said that number will increase as its new Model 3 becomes available. The vehicle, which has a starting cost of $35,000, is marketed as an affordable electric vehicle against Tesla's other vehicles that can cost more than twice that.

A similar version of the bill will soon be introduced in the state Senate. The legislative session ends June 21.