Elon Musk dodges ban on direct sales in New Mexico as Tesla sets up center in defunct casino on tribal land where customers can buy cars without going through third-party dealers New Mexico law prohibits car manufacturers from selling directly to customers without going through third-party dealers The law has kept the electric carmaker from doing official business in the state for years In an attempt to work around the laws, they have partnered with the Nambe Pueblo first nation tribe to open up a facility The building is currently a defunct casino on tribal land just north of Sante Fe By Stephen M. Lepore For Mailonline Published: 10:35 BST, 13 September 2021 | Updated: 10:41 BST, 13 September 2021 Viewcomments Tesla CEO Elon Musk exploited a loophole to avoid following New Mexico laws while setting up a sales and service center with one of the tribal nations in the state. New Mexico law prohibits car manufacturers from selling directly to customers without going through third-party dealers. The rules, which exist in a few other US states, are meant to protect dealers from their own automakers opening a company-owned store next to a third-party dealership. Tesla CEO Elon Musk exploited a loophole to avoid following New Mexico laws while setting up a sales and service center with one of the tribal nations in the state However, electric carmakers like Tesla have no history of deals with third-party franchises. The law has kept the electric carmaker from doing official business in the state for years. In 2019, Tesla tried to push a new law in the state with the help of some favorable legislators, but local car dealer associations used their political influence to shut it down, according to Electrek. 'This location will not only create permanent jobs, it is also part of a longterm relationship with Tesla,' said Nambe Pueblo Gov. Phillip Perez 'This location will not only create permanent jobs, it is also part of a longterm relationship with Tesla,' said Nambe Pueblo Gov. Phillip Perez. The building is currently a defunct casino on tribal land just north of Sante Fe. State law doesn't apply on that land, making it legal for Tesla to start building. 'This location will not only create permanent jobs, it is also part of a longterm relationship with Tesla,' said Nambe Pueblo Gov. Phillip Perez. The facility opened Thursday with tribal leaders and state lawmakers in attendance. They all saw it as a huge opportunity for the region. 'This location will not only create permanent jobs, it is also part of a longterm relationship with Tesla,' said Nambe Pueblo Gov. Phillip Perez. The Nambe Pueblo are one of the six Tewa-speaking pueblo tribes in the region 'As the company is working with pueblo nambe to provide education and training opportunities for tribal members, as well as economic development,' he added. Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich called the deal a step toward greener energy for the nation's transportation infrastructure, while adding that it gave the state more access to electric cars. 'We need to double down on this progress and expand uncapped consumer incentives for electric vehicles, make it easier to manufacture electric vehicles in the United States, and fund the rapid electrification of the federal fleet of vehicles,' Heinrich said in a statement. The state of New Mexico and the federal government have repeatedly recognized the status of the pueblo tribes as sovereign nations The Nambe Pueblo are one of the six Tewa-speaking pueblo tribes in the region, according to their website. The state of New Mexico and the federal government have repeatedly recognized the status of the pueblo tribes as sovereign nations. Both local and national leaders appeared at the opening and praised it as an opportunity for the state Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility