The ongoing debate surrounding Tesla's direct sales approach – with states like New Jersey and Missouri all but banning the company's strategy with complex legislation – took a turn in Tesla's favor the other day. Several Federal Trade Commission officials told these states their dealer-favoring laws constituted a form of "protection that is likely harming both competition and consumers." The FTC has made similar statements in the past, calling these laws "bad policy" and "protectionist."

Answering questions from New Jersey and Missouri officials, the FTC representatives stated that NJ's current law "is very likely anti-competitive and harmful to consumers." Unfortunately for Tesla, these statements pertain only to the two states involved in the discussions, and will not assist in pushing the matter forward on a national level just yet.