Automobile History Repeats

[Herb Hunter]

Originally Posted by Twelvefret

No, the court moved in his favor. http://inventors.about.com/library/w...arsseldona.htm

My recollection was actually correct. Henry Ford applied to the Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers (ALAM) for a license to manufacture his cars and after being rejected twice, began manufacturing anyway. ALAM’s response was to attack Ford in the press and file unsuccessful lawsuits against him.

[Dirk Hofman]

Originally Posted by Earwitness

Is Tesla an example of free-market capitalism?

More than fair point. Also more than fair to point out that any car running on fossil fuels is heavily subsidized. Not sure how to compare them, the loans to Tesla and the discounts to consumers are certainly more direct, but the subsidies to the oil industry are massive as well.

[Herb Hunter]

I would love to be able to walk into an automobile manufacturer's retail outlet where the car buying experience would be like buying a computer at an Apple Store or buying a Bose product at a Bose store. Instead, thanks to the car dealership lobby, I can’t. I have to deal with car dealers and their insufferable sales tactics and games. There is no good reason why a car manufacturer should be prohibited from selling directly to the customer.