A bill that would have allowed electric vehicle manufacturers to sell directly to consumers in South Carolina has stalled in the legislature, effectively ending its chances for this session. Lawmakers voted on Wednesday to adjourn the South Carolina Consumer Freedom Act debate, halting any further discussion for now.
The proposed legislation aimed to enable automakers without prior franchise agreements to bypass traditional dealerships and sell vehicles directly to customers. It also sought to permit manufacturers to operate their own service centers.
Supporters, including Scout Motors and Tesla, argued that the bill would expand consumer choice and help South Carolina compete with other states. Scout Motors, which is currently building an EV plant in Richland County, highlighted the irony that workers assembling Scout vehicles in the state would be unable to purchase them directly.
Opponents, particularly franchise dealership owners, contended that the bill would give EV manufacturers an unfair advantage. They emphasized that automakers were aware of South Carolina’s dealership laws before entering the market and expressed concerns about potential job losses within the state’s dealer network.
Some lawmakers shared concerns about the bill’s impact on dealership jobs. While Scout Motors’ investment is expected to create 4,000 jobs, South Carolina’s existing dealership network supports approximately 18,000 jobs, raising questions about the broader economic trade-offs involved.
With the debate adjourned, the bill will not move forward this session, but legislators noted that a similar measure could be reintroduced in the future.
