Tesla store decision in Mass. rests in judge's hands
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A Massachusetts judge is considering whether to allow a Tesla Motors store in suburban Boston to continue normal operations.
No decision was issued immediately after a hearing held Thursday on a request for preliminary injunction by the Massachusetts State Automobile Dealers Association and some dealers. The association and the dealers sued Tesla on Oct. 16, claiming the electric vehicle maker's Natick, Mass., store violates the state's licensing, consumer protection and franchise laws.
The injunction seeks to block Tesla from using the Natick location, which opened Sept. 28, as "anything other than an unstaffed display of a locked automobile."
In an e-mail, Robert O'Koniewski, executive vice president of the Massachusetts association, said: "We stated our case. They rebutted. Judge took everything under advisement."
O'Koniewski said he had no sense of when the judge will decide.
Tesla spokeswoman Shanna Hendriks said Tesla officials expect a ruling on the injunction request "in the next couple of days."
You can reach Amy Wilson at awilson@crain.com.
