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Committee advances bill clarifying dealers may exhibit but not sell at auto shows
Summary
House File 320 would confirm that licensed automobile dealers may exhibit vehicles at auto shows but may not offer sales, appraisals or trade‑in appraisals at those events; the committee sent the bill to the General Register by voice vote.
House File 320, which creates a statutory clarification that motor vehicle dealers may exhibit vehicles at auto shows but may not sell or perform certain sales functions at those venues, was re‑referred to the General Register by the House Commerce, Finance and Policy Committee on Feb. 20.
Representative Perryman presented the bill as a straightforward clarification that dealers can participate in auto shows as exhibitors. Amanda Dubert, director of government affairs for the Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association, told the committee that the industry has shifted from manufacturer‑led exhibitions toward local dealers showcasing vehicles, and confusion has grown because dealer franchise agreements and dealer licensing list specific licensed locations for sales. Dubert said the bill “makes it clear that vehicles are not for sale or lease at the auto show” and that dealers “cannot appraise customer trade ins or advertise pricing outside of the MSRP.”
She added that manufacturer trade group Alliance for Automotive Innovation raised no concerns. Representative Perryman moved to re‑refer the bill; the committee approved the motion by voice vote.
The bill’s text would specify that exhibiting at an auto show is distinct from selling vehicles and would preserve existing licensure restrictions on where dealers may sell. The committee recorded the action as a voice vote; no roll call was recorded in the transcript.
