Bill > HB3351

This bill amends existing Texas law to allow manufacturers of electric or battery-powered vehicles to own and operate their own dealerships, which was previously restricted to licensed independent dealers. Specifically, it permits these manufacturers to act as dealers if they meet certain conditions: their headquarters must be in the United States, they must not have previously sold their vehicles through independent dealerships in the U.S., and they must sell no more than 5,000 new electric or battery-powered vehicles annually from all their dealerships in Texas. The bill also clarifies that employees of these manufacturers can work at these dealerships, and it modifies transportation code requirements to allow these manufacturers to obtain a dealer general distinguishing number, which is a permit to operate a dealership, provided they meet the outlined criteria and agree to allow state inspection of their vehicle ownership records.