Washington Clean Car Choice Coalition Launches, Applauds Bipartisan Legislation to Give Consumers the Choice to Buy Directly from Any Zero-Emission Vehicle-Only Manufacturer

OLYMPIA, WA – A new statewide, cross-sector coalition — the Washington Clean Car Choice Coalition — launched today to advocate for legislators in Olympia to give Washington consumers the choice to purchase a vehicle directly from any zero-emission vehicle-only manufacturer that does not use the traditional franchise dealer network.

Coalition members and advocates around the state are urging legislators to support House Bill (HB) 1721 and Senate Bill (SB) 5592, bipartisan proposals that would allow Washington consumers to buy cars directly from any zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) only-manufacturer with at least two service centers and a mobile service for customers. The legislation addresses the loophole that allows one zero-emission vehicle manufacturer to sell directly and bans all the others. It also provides incentives to traditional auto dealers for zero-emission vehicle sales, including funding for ZEV technician training and charging infrastructure programs. It also supports traditional auto dealers who partner with ZEV manufacturers.

The Washington Clean Car Choice Coalition also released new statewide public opinion research showing that 84 percent of Washingtonians support allowing all vehicle manufacturers without traditional dealerships to sell directly to customers in their own showrooms. Just 11 percent of Washington voters support the current policy of allowing only one ZEV-only manufacturer to sell cars directly to customers in their own showrooms and banning every other zero-emission vehicle-only manufacturer from doing so. You can read more about the new polling here.

Current Washington law bans consumers from choosing to purchase vehicles from direct-to-consumer car manufacturers, which means no test drives of vehicles available for purchase, no pricing discussions, and no purchases from a showroom – but with one manufacturer exempted through a loophole.

The solution is to give Washington consumers the choice to purchase a vehicle directly from any zero-emission vehicle-only manufacturer that does not use the traditional franchise dealer network. Updating state law to give consumers the choice to make their own direct, in-person buying decisions would mean a level playing field, more competition, and lower car costs for Washingtonians.

In 2014, the state passed a law that only allowed just one company to sell to consumers but banned purchasing directly from other vehicle manufacturers, creating an uneven playing field and limiting consumer choice.

The Washington Clean Car Choice Coalition represents state and national organizations advocating for consumer rights, clean energy transportation choices, and jobs. You can learn more about the coalition and its members here.

Ending the state’s ban on direct access to zero emission vehicles will not negatively impact traditional auto dealers. Data from the industry’s own national lobbying group, the National Auto Dealers Association, shows that states that allow direct consumer access have seen 27 percent higher sales revenue and nearly five percent higher employment growth compared to states that ban direct purchases by consumers.

Washington is the only state on the West Coast that blocks consumers from buying zero-emission vehicles directly from a manufacturer, with one manufacturer exempted.

Allowing direct consumer access to zero-emission vehicles would:

• Promote fair competition in the market and choice for consumers. Limiting consumers’ choice to buying from just one zero-emission-only vehicle manufacturer reduces competition. It’s only fair to create a level playing field and give all zero-emission-only car manufacturers the same opportunity. That way, consumers get to choose who they want to buy zero emission vehicles from, and how.
• Lower costs for consumers. Creating more competition through a level playing field would help lower costs for consumers. Traditional car dealers typically markup a vehicle about 10 percent over the manufacturer’s suggested retail price. Providing direct consumer access to zero-emission vehicles would also advance transparency in pricing. Consumers who buy directly through a manufacturer pay the same price.
• Advance the state’s clean transportation goals. Allowing consumers to buy directly from all zero-emission vehicle manufacturers who don’t currently have a dealership network – as nearly half of all states do, including Idaho, Oregon, and California – would help put more clean vehicles on Washington State roads and help us meet our clean transportation goals, including the requirement that all new, light-duty vehicles sold in Washington meet zero-emission vehicle standards by 2035. An independent analysis found that by enabling all manufacturers to sell zero-emission vehicles directly to consumers, clean car adoption may increase by as much as 13 percent by 2030.
• Protect consumers. Right now, if a Washington resident purchases any zero-emission vehicle from a manufacturer with the exception of one manufacturer, the transaction legally occurs outside the state. Washington laws  may not govern the transaction or the rules governing the manufacturer’s responsibilities. A change in the state’s law would allow the transaction to occur in Washington, meaning Washington rules governing consumer protections would apply.

Addressing the current ban on clean car choice would also not apply to all auto manufacturers. Instead, it would update Washington’s rules to allow zero emission vehicle-only companies that haven’t used the franchise system to sell directly to consumers.

What Members of the Washington Clean Car Choice Coalition Are Saying

“In Washington, transportation is our top source of climate pollution,” said Leah Missik, Acting Washington Director for Climate Solutions. “We both need to expand access to convenient and safe transit, walking, and biking options – and transition to 100% clean vehicles. This is one tool in our toolkit, and we need to use all of them to cut transportation pollution.”

“We need to knock down barriers to electrification in Washington State, and we must take every chance to advance our electrification infrastructure,” said Matthew Hepner, Executive Director of the Certified Electrical Workers of Washington, which represents over 10,000 workers statewide. “If we can focus on policies that maximize deployment of, that will require more electric charging infrastructure and mean more jobs for electricians across the state.”

“We need to make it easier for Washingtonians to experience and lease or own zero emission vehicles and to use electricity as a transportation fuel,” said Isaac Kastama with Clean & Prosperous Washington. “Washington State should be the cheapest, easiest state to buy a clean car, and clean car choice is an important step in making that happen.”

“We know that the lack of clean car choice in Washington is a barrier to adoption for our communities. It is urgent that we democratize access to clean cars in the Evergreen State,“ said Paula Sardinas, Founder of the Washington Build Back Black Alliance and former Co-Chair, WA EV Coordinating Council. “Bridging affordability gaps and modernizing how and where Washingtonians can buy cars demand innovative policy interventions. To truly usher in a cleaner, fairer automotive era and more inclusive future, we must prioritize equity in direct clean car access.”

“Washingtonians should have the same opportunity as consumers in many other states on the West Coast: To make their own decisions about how they buy cars, and from whom,” said Hannah Steinweg, Public Policy Director for American zero emission vehicle manufacturer Rivian. “A level playing field among zero emission vehicle-only manufacturers is good for competition, and good for consumers.”

“The Electrification Coalition strongly supports providing Washingtonians with the freedom to buy the clean vehicle of their choice directly from a manufacturer,” said the Electrification Coalition. “Washington has moved ambitiously toward transportation electrification, and this bill will further solidify Washington’s EV leadership while supporting consumer choice, creating jobs, and keeping tax revenue from EV sales in the state.”

What Leaders in Olympia Are Saying

“Expanding the choice of clean cars that Washingtonians can buy is a simple step we can take to make zero-emission vehicles more accessible for Washingtonians and put more clean cars on our roads,” said Representative Beth Doglio (D-Olympia), the lead sponsor of HB 1721 and Chair of the House Environment & Energy Committee. “If we are going to meet our clean transportation goals and lead the nation in climate action, then we have to remove barriers to buying zero-emission vehicles.”

“It’s time for Washington to stop giving special treatment to one car company, and to level the playing field for all ZEV-only manufacturers,” said Senator Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle), prime sponsor of SB 5592 and Chair of the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee. “This commonsense policy is another way we can update our laws to help shape our clean transportation future.”

About the Washington Clean Car Choice Coalition

The Washington Clean Car Choice Coalition (WCCCC) works to provide more consumer choice in Washington State for car buying decisions. The WCCCC represents cross-sector state and national organizations advocating for consumer rights, clean energy transportation choices, and jobs. To learn more, visit wacleancarchoice.org.