FTC Staff Comment Before the New Jersey General Assembly Regarding Assembly Bills 2986, 3096, 3041, and 3216, Which Would Create Limited Exceptions to New Jersey’s Prohibition on Direct-to-Consumer Sales by Manufacturers of Automobiles

FTC staff submitted a comment, in response to a request from New Jersey Assemblyman Paul D. Moriarty, regarding four bills that each would permit, to varying degrees, some manufacturers to sell cars directly to consumers under limited circumstances. The comment concluded that the bills likely would increase competition relative to the existing blanket ban on all other methods of selling cars. The comment further urged a complete repeal of the prohibition on direct sales, which would more fully benefit consumers.