The Illinois Vehicle Sellers Affiliation filed an attraction in Chicago difficult a December courtroom ruling that enables Rivian Automotive and Lucid Group to proceed direct EV gross sales within the state.

The attraction, filed Friday, had been anticipated.

Within the Dec. 19 ruling, Affiliate Decide David Atkins determined the Illinois secretary of state was appropriate in issuing vendor licenses to the electrical automobile startups, because it beforehand had for Tesla Inc. The ruling opens the door for producers to observe Tesla’s direct-sales mannequin. Joe McMahon, the affiliation’s government director, beforehand instructed Automotive Information the choice provides particular remedy to EV makers.

Direct gross sales from producers end in a monopoly with no value profit, McMahon mentioned in a Jan. 5 assertion.

The state’s vendor affiliation, which represents 700 dealerships, cited the Illinois Car Code and Illinois Motor Car Franchise Act as stating that public automobile gross sales should be made via licensed and impartial franchised sellers.

The dominant mannequin of utilizing franchised sellers for new-vehicle gross sales shouldn’t be necessary underneath state legislation, Atkins mentioned. McMahon confirmed the attraction was filed on the premise of those legal guidelines.

“You can’t be a producer and a vendor,” McMahon mentioned. “That is within the legislation, so we expect it is fairly clear.”