Tesla officials, owners of the company's electric cars and people who are on a waiting list to buy one are pushing the state Legislature to allow Elon Musk's corporation to expand in New York.
State law requires car manufacturers to sell through franchises. But a state law passed in 2014 allows California-based Tesla five direct-to-consumer sales offices in New York, all of them in the New York City metro area.
Under legislation sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle (mor-EL'-ee), D-Rochester, and Sen. George, R-Rotterdam, Tesla would be allowed to expand to 20 stores. Five would be located in the upstate region's most populated areas.
Tesla says expanding in New York would make its zero-emissions vehicles more widely available and help reduce air pollution.
Auto dealership associations oppose the proposal.
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