Dealers tell Vermont lawmakers EV delivery rules, truck shortfalls and fuel tariffs could strain local businesses

Matt Gota, a trade-association consultant who said he represents Vermont dealers and fuel interests, told the House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee on Feb. 11 that auto dealers have spent heavily preparing for electric vehicles but face new pressure from state-adopted delivery requirements and truck rules. "You can't sell a car if it can't drive off the lot," Gota said, describing dealer investments in chargers and technician training.

The testimony centered on how Vermont's adoption of California-style "advanced clean" vehicle rules and the Climate Action Plan goals intersect with dealer economics, truck availability and state fuel flows. Gota said new-vehicle registrations with a plug now represent about 12% of new vehicle deliveries in Vermont, and cited AOT and industry figures that put total plug‑in registrations in the state in the mid‑teens of thousands.

Why it matters: committee members heard that the mandate to have manufacturers deliver a higher share of plug‑in vehicles to Vermont (Gota described a 35% delivery target for model year 2026 under the advanced clean car standard) is imposed on manufacturers, not consumers, but…