AB 1178, as amended, Achadjian. Vehicles: manufacturers and distributors.
Existing law generally requires a manufacturer, distributor, transporter, or dealer of vehicles to be licensed by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Under existing law, it is unlawful for a manufacturer, manufacturer branch, distributor, or distributor branch to engage in specified practices, including taking or threatening to take any adverse action against a dealer pursuant to an export or sale-for-resale prohibition because the dealer sold or leased a vehicle to a customer who either exported the vehicle to a foreign country or resold the vehicle in violation of the prohibition, unless the export or sale-for-resale prohibition policy was provided to the dealer in writing prior to the sale or lease, and the dealer knew or reasonably should have known of the customer’s intent to export or resell the vehicle in violation of the prohibition at the time of sale or lease. Existing law further provides that if the dealer causes the vehicle to be registered in this or any other state, and collects or causes to be collected any applicable sales or use tax due to this state, a rebuttable presumption is established that the dealer did not have reason to know of the customer’s intent to export or resell the vehicle. A violation of these provisions is a crime.
This bill would recast the provisions relating to export and sale-for-resale prohibitions described above to provide that it would be unlawful to take or threaten to take any adverse action against a dealer pursuant to an export or sale-for-resale prohibition because the dealer sold or leased a vehicle to a customer who either exported the vehicle to a foreign country or resold the vehicle in violation of the prohibition if the dealer causes the vehicle to be registered in this or any other state, and collects or causes to be collected any applicable sales or use tax due to this state. By
expanding the scope ofbegin delete these provisions, the violation of which is aend deletebegin insert an existingend insert crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.begin insert The bill would also provide that a manufacturer, manufacturer branch, distributor, or distributor branch may take an adverse action against a dealer only when a vehicle is either exported to a foreign county or resold in violation of an export or sale-for-resale prohibition policy if the manufacturer, manufacturer branch, distributor, or distributor branch provided the policy and a known exporter list in writing to the dealer at least 5 business days before the sale or lease of the vehicle and the dealer sold or leased the vehicle to a person listed as a known exporter.end insert
This bill would make additional technical, nonsubstantive changes to those provisions.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 11713.3 of the Vehicle Code is amended
2to read:
It is unlawful and a violation of this code for a
4manufacturer, manufacturer branch, distributor, or distributor
5branch licensed pursuant to this code to do, directly or indirectly
6through an affiliate, any of the following:
7(a) To refuse or fail to deliver in reasonable quantities and within
8a reasonable time after receipt of an order from a dealer having a
P3 1franchise for the retail sale of a new vehicle sold or distributed by
2the manufacturer or distributor, a new vehicle or parts or
3accessories to new vehicles as are covered by the franchise, if the
4vehicle, parts, or accessories are publicly advertised as being
5available for delivery or actually being delivered. This subdivision
6is not violated, however,
if the failure is caused by acts or causes
7beyond the control of the manufacturer, manufacturer branch,
8distributor, or distributor branch.
9(b) To prevent or require, or attempt to prevent or require, by
10contract or otherwise, a change in the capital structure of a
11dealership or the means by or through which the dealer finances
12the operation of the dealership, if the dealer at all times meets
13reasonable capital standards agreed to by the dealer and the
14manufacturer or distributor, and if a change in capital structure
15does not cause a change in the principal management or have the
16effect of a sale of the franchise without the consent of the
17manufacturer or distributor.
18(c) To prevent or require, or attempt to prevent or require, a
19dealer to change the executive management of a
dealership, other
20than the principal dealership operator or operators, if the franchise
21was granted to the dealer in reliance upon the personal
22qualifications of that person.
23(d) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (t), to prevent or
24require, or attempt to prevent or require, by contract or otherwise,
25a dealer, or an officer, partner, or stockholder of a dealership, the
26sale or transfer of a part of the interest of any of them to another
27person. A dealer, officer, partner, or stockholder shall not, however,
28have the right to sell, transfer, or assign the franchise, or a right
29thereunder, without the consent of the manufacturer or distributor
30except that the consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
31(2) (A) For the transferring franchisee
to fail, prior to the sale,
32transfer, or assignment of a franchisee or the sale, assignment, or
33transfer of all, or substantially all, of the assets of the franchised
34business or a controlling interest in the franchised business to
35another person, to notify the manufacturer or distributor of the
36franchisee’s decision to sell, transfer, or assign the franchise. The
37notice shall be in writing and shall include all of the following:
38(i) The proposed transferee’s name and address.
39(ii) A copy of all of the agreements relating to the sale,
40assignment, or transfer of the franchised business or its assets.
P4 1(iii) The proposed transferee’s application for approval to
2become the successor franchisee. The application shall include
3forms
and related information generally utilized by the
4manufacturer or distributor in reviewing prospective franchisees,
5if those forms are readily made available to existing franchisees.
6As soon as practicable after receipt of the proposed transferee’s
7application, the manufacturer or distributor shall notify the
8franchisee and the proposed transferee of information needed to
9make the application complete.
10(B) For the manufacturer or distributor, to fail, on or before 60
11days after the receipt of all of the information required pursuant
12to subparagraph (A), or as extended by a written agreement
13between the manufacturer or distributor and the franchisee, to
14notify the franchisee of the approval or the disapproval of the sale,
15transfer, or assignment of the franchise. The notice shall be in
16writing and shall be personally served or sent by certified
mail,
17return receipt requested, or by guaranteed overnight delivery
18service that provides verification of delivery and shall be directed
19to the franchisee. A proposed sale, assignment, or transfer shall
20be deemed approved, unless disapproved by the franchisor in the
21manner provided by this subdivision. If the proposed sale,
22assignment, or transfer is disapproved, the franchisor shall include
23in the notice of disapproval a statement setting forth the reasons
24for the disapproval.
25(3) In an action in which the manufacturer’s or distributor’s
26withholding of consent under this subdivision or subdivision (e)
27is an issue, whether the withholding of consent was unreasonable
28is a question of fact requiring consideration of all the existing
29circumstances.
30(e) To prevent, or
attempt to prevent, a dealer from receiving
31fair and reasonable compensation for the value of the franchised
32business. There shall not be a transfer or assignment of the dealer’s
33franchise without the consent of the manufacturer or distributor.
34The manufacturer or distributor shall not unreasonably withhold
35consent or condition consent upon the release, assignment,
36novation, waiver, estoppel, or modification of a claim or defense
37by the dealer.
38(f) To obtain money, goods, services, or another benefit from
39a person with whom the dealer does business, on account of, or in
40relation to, the transaction between the dealer and that other person,
P5 1other than for compensation for services rendered, unless the
2benefit is promptly accounted for, and transmitted to, the dealer.
3(g) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (3), to obtain from a
4dealer or enforce against a dealer an agreement, provision, release,
5assignment, novation, waiver, or estoppel that does any of the
6following:
7(A) Modifies or disclaims a duty or obligation of a manufacturer,
8manufacturer branch, distributor, distributor branch, or
9representative, or a right or privilege of a dealer, pursuant to
10Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 11700) of Division 5 or
11Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 3000) of Division 2.
12(B) Limits or constrains the right of a dealer to file, pursue, or
13submit evidence in connection with a protest before the board.
14(C) Requires a dealer to terminate a franchise.
15(D) Requires a controversy between a manufacturer,
16manufacturer branch, distributor, distributor branch, or
17representative and a dealer to be referred to a person for a binding
18determination. However, this subparagraph does not prohibit
19arbitration before an independent arbitrator, provided that whenever
20a motor vehicle franchise contract provides for the use of arbitration
21to resolve a controversy arising out of, or relating to, that contract,
22arbitration may be used to settle the controversy only if, after the
23controversy arises, all parties to the controversy consent in writing
24to use arbitration to settle the controversy. For the purpose of this
25subparagraph, the terms “motor vehicle” and “motor vehicle
26franchise contract” shall have the same meaning as defined in
27Section 1226 of Title 15 of the United States Code. If arbitration
28is elected to settle a dispute under a motor vehicle
franchise
29contract, the arbitrator shall provide the parties to the arbitration
30with a written explanation of the factual and legal basis for the
31award.
32(2) An agreement, provision, release, assignment, novation,
33waiver, or estoppel prohibited by this subdivision shall be
34unenforceable and void.
35(3) This subdivision does not do any of the following:
36(A) Limit or restrict the terms upon which parties to a protest
37before the board, civil action, or other proceeding can settle or
38resolve, or stipulate to evidentiary or procedural matters during
39the course of, a protest, civil action, or other proceeding.
P6 1(B) Affect the enforceability of any stipulated order or
other
2order entered by the board.
3(C) Affect the enforceability of any provision in a contract if
4the provision is not prohibited under this subdivision or any other
5law.
6(D) Affect the enforceability of a provision in any contract
7entered into on or before December 31, 2011.
8(E) Prohibit a dealer from waiving its right to file a protest
9pursuant to Section 3065.1 if the waiver agreement is entered into
10after a franchisor incentive program claim has been disapproved
11by the franchisor and the waiver is voluntarily given as part of an
12agreement to settle that claim.
13(F) Prohibit a voluntary agreement supported by valuable
14consideration, other than
granting or renewing a franchise, that
15does both of the following:
16(i) Provides that a dealer establish or maintain exclusive
17facilities, personnel, or display space or provides that a dealer
18make a material alteration, expansion, or addition to a dealership
19facility.
20(ii) Contains no waiver or other provision prohibited by
21subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) of paragraph (1).
22(G) Prohibit an agreement separate from the franchise agreement
23that implements a dealer’s election to terminate the franchise if
24the agreement is conditioned only on a specified time for
25termination or payment of consideration to the dealer.
26(H) (i) Prohibit a
voluntary waiver agreement, supported by
27valuable consideration, other than the consideration of renewing
28a franchise, to waive the right of a dealer to file a protest under
29Section 3062 for the proposed establishment or relocation of a
30specific proposed dealership, if the waiver agreement provides all
31of the following:
32(I) The approximate address at which the proposed dealership
33will be located.
34(II) The planning potential used to establish the proposed
35dealership’s facility, personnel, and capital requirements.
36(III) An approximation of projected vehicle and parts sales, and
37number of vehicles to be serviced at the proposed dealership.
38(IV) Whether the
franchisor or affiliate will hold an ownership
39interest in the proposed dealership or real property of the proposed
P7 1dealership, and the approximate percentage of any franchisor or
2affiliate ownership interest in the proposed dealership.
3(V) The line-makes to be operated at the proposed dealership.
4(VI) If known at the time the waiver agreement is executed, the
5identity of the dealer who will operate the proposed dealership.
6(VII) The date the waiver agreement is to expire, which may
7not be more than 30 months after the date of execution of the
8waiver agreement.
9(ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of a waiver agreement
10entered into pursuant to the provisions of
this subparagraph, a
11dealer may file a protest under Section 3062 if any of the
12information provided pursuant to clause (i) has become materially
13inaccurate since the waiver agreement was executed. Any
14determination of the enforceability of a waiver agreement shall be
15determined by the board and the franchisor shall have the burden
16of proof.
17(h) To increase prices of motor vehicles that the dealer had
18ordered for private retail consumers prior to the dealer’s receipt
19of the written official price increase notification. A sales contract
20signed by a private retail consumer is evidence of the order. In the
21event of manufacturer price reductions, the amount of the reduction
22received by a dealer shall be passed on to the private retail
23consumer by the dealer if the retail price was negotiated on the
24basis of the previous higher price to the
dealer. Price reductions
25apply to all vehicles in the dealer’s inventory that were subject to
26the price reduction. Price differences applicable to new model or
27series motor vehicles at the time of the introduction of new models
28or series shall not be considered a price increase or price decrease.
29This subdivision does not apply to price changes caused by either
30of the following:
31(1) The addition to a motor vehicle of required or optional
32equipment pursuant to state or federal law.
33(2) Revaluation of the United States dollar in the case of a
34foreign-make vehicle.
35(i) To fail to pay to a dealer, within a reasonable time following
36receipt of a valid claim by a dealer thereof, a payment agreed to
37be made by the
manufacturer or distributor to the dealer by reason
38of the fact that a new vehicle of a prior year model is in the dealer’s
39inventory at the time of introduction of new model vehicles.
P8 1(j) To deny the widow, widower, or heirs designated by a
2deceased owner of a dealership the opportunity to participate in
3the ownership of the dealership or successor dealership under a
4valid franchise for a reasonable time after the death of the owner.
5(k) To offer refunds or other types of inducements to a person
6for the purchase of new motor vehicles of a certain line-make to
7be sold to the state or a political subdivision of the state without
8making the same offer to all other dealers in the same line-make
9within the relevant market area.
10(l) To
modify, replace, enter into, relocate, terminate, or refuse
11to renew a franchise in violation of Article 4 (commencing with
12Section 3060) of Chapter 6 of Division 2.
13(m) To employ a person as a representative who has not been
14licensed pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 11900)
15of Chapter 4 of Division 5.
16(n) To deny a dealer the right of free association with another
17dealer for a lawful purpose.
18(o) (1) To compete with a dealer in the same line-make
19operating under an agreement or franchise from a manufacturer
20or distributor in the relevant market area.
21(2) A manufacturer, branch, or distributorbegin insert,end insert
or an entity that
22controls or is controlledbegin delete by,end deletebegin insert byend insert a manufacturer, branch, or
23distributor, shall not, however, be deemed to be competing in the
24following limited circumstances:
25(A) Owning or operating a dealership for a temporary period,
26not to exceed one year at the location of a former dealership of the
27same line-make that has been out of operation for less than six
28months. However, after a showing of good cause by a
29manufacturer, branch, or distributor that it needs additional time
30to operate a dealership in preparation for sale to a successor
31independent franchisee, the board may extend the time period.
32(B) Owning an interest in a dealer as part of a bona fide dealer
33development program that satisfies all of the following
34requirements:
35(i) The sole purpose of the program is to make franchises
36available to persons lacking capital, training, business experience,
37or other qualities ordinarily required of prospective franchisees
38and the dealer development candidate is an individual who is
39unable to acquire the franchise without assistance of the program.
P9 1(ii) The dealer development candidate has made a significant
2investment subject to loss in the franchised business of the dealer.
3(iii) The program requires the dealer development candidate to
4manage the day-to-day operations and business affairs of the dealer
5and
to acquire, within a reasonable time and on reasonable terms
6and conditions, beneficial ownership and control of a majority
7interest in the dealer and disassociation of any direct or indirect
8ownership or control by the manufacturer, branch, or distributor.
9(C) Owning a wholly owned subsidiary corporation of a
10distributor that sells motor vehicles at retail, if, for at least three
11years prior to January 1, 1973, the subsidiary corporation has been
12a wholly owned subsidiary of the distributor and engaged in the
13sale of vehicles at retail.
14(3) (A) A manufacturer, branch, and distributor that owns or
15operates a dealership in the manner described in subparagraph (A)
16of paragraph (2) shall give written notice to the board, within 10
17days, each time it commences or
terminates operation of a
18dealership and each time it acquires, changes, or divests itself of
19an ownership interest.
20(B) A manufacturer, branch, and distributor that owns an interest
21in a dealer in the manner described in subparagraph (B) of
22paragraph (2) shall give written notice to the board, annually, of
23the name and location of each dealer in which it has an ownership
24interest, the name of the bona fide dealer development owner or
25owners, and the ownership interests of each owner expressed as a
26percentage.
27(p) To unfairly discriminate among its franchisees with respect
28to warranty reimbursement or authority granted to its franchisees
29to make warranty adjustments with retail customers.
30(q) To sell vehicles to a
person not licensed pursuant to this
31chapter for resale.
32(r) To fail to affix an identification number to a park trailer, as
33described in Section 18009.3 of the Health and Safety Code, that
34is manufactured on or after January 1, 1987, and that does not
35clearly identify the unit as a park trailer to the department. The
36configuration of the identification number shall be approved by
37the department.
38(s) To dishonor a warranty, rebate, or other incentive offered
39to the public or a dealer in connection with the retail sale of a new
40motor vehicle, based solely upon the fact that an autobroker
P10 1arranged or negotiated the sale. This subdivision shall not prohibit
2the disallowance of that rebate or incentive if the purchaser or
3dealer is ineligible to receive the rebate or incentive
pursuant to
4any other term or condition of a rebate or incentive program.
5(t) To exercise a right of first refusal or other right requiring a
6franchisee or an owner of the franchise to sell, transfer, or assign
7to the franchisor, or to a nominee of the franchisor, all or a material
8part of the franchised business or of the assets of the franchised
9business unless all of the following requirements are met:
10(1) The franchise authorizes the franchisor to exercise a right
11of first refusal to acquire the franchised business or assets of the
12franchised business in the event of a proposed sale, transfer, or
13assignment.
14(2) The franchisor gives written notice of its exercise of the
15right of first refusal no later than 45 days
after the franchisor
16receives all of the information required pursuant to subparagraph
17(A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (d).
18(3) The sale, transfer, or assignment being proposed relates to
19not less than all or substantially all of the assets of the franchised
20business or to a controlling interest in the franchised business.
21(4) The proposed transferee is neither a family member of an
22owner of the franchised business, nor a managerial employee of
23the franchisee owning 15 percent or more of the franchised
24business, nor a corporation, partnership, or other legal entity owned
25by the existing owners of the franchised business. For purposes of
26this paragraph, a “family member” means the spouse of an owner
27of the franchised business, the child, grandchild, brother, sister,
28or parent of
an owner, or a spouse of one of those family members.
29This paragraph does not limit the rights of the franchisor to
30disapprove a proposed transferee as provided in subdivision (d).
31(5) Upon the franchisor’s exercise of the right of first refusal,
32the consideration paid by the franchisor to the franchisee and
33owners of the franchised business shall equal or exceed all
34consideration that each of them were to have received under the
35terms of, or in connection with, the proposed sale, assignment, or
36transfer, and the franchisor shall comply with all the terms and
37conditions of the agreement or agreements to sell, transfer, or
38assign the franchised business.
39(6) The franchisor shall reimburse the proposed transferee for
40expenses paid or incurred by the proposed transferee in evaluating,
P11 1investigating,
and negotiating the proposed transfer to the extent
2those expenses do not exceed the usual, customary, and reasonable
3fees charged for similar work done in the area in which the
4franchised business is located. These expenses include, but are not
5limited to, legal and accounting expenses, and expenses incurred
6for title reports and environmental or other investigations of real
7property on which the franchisee’s operations are conducted. The
8proposed transferee shall provide the franchisor a written
9itemization of those expenses, and a copy of all nonprivileged
10reports and studies for which expenses were incurred, if any, within
1130 days of the proposed transferee’s receipt of a written request
12from the franchisor for that accounting. The franchisor shall make
13payment within 30 days of exercising the right of first refusal.
14(u) (1) To unfairly discriminate in favor of a dealership owned
15or controlled, in whole or in part, by a manufacturer or distributor
16or an entity that controls or is controlled by the manufacturer or
17distributor. Unfair discrimination includes, but is not limited to,
18the following:
19(A) The furnishing to a franchisee or dealer that is owned or
20controlled, in whole or in part, by a manufacturer, branch, or
21distributor of any of the following:
22(i) A vehicle that is not made available to each franchisee
23pursuant to a reasonable allocation formula that is applied
24uniformly, and a part or accessory that is not made available to all
25franchisees on an equal basis when there is no reasonable allocation
26formula that is applied uniformly.
27(ii) A vehicle, part, or accessory that is not made available to
28each franchisee on comparable delivery terms, including the time
29of delivery after the placement of an order. Differences in delivery
30terms due to geographic distances or other factors beyond the
31control of the manufacturer, branch, or distributor shall not
32constitute unfair competition.
33(iii) Information obtained from a franchisee by the manufacturer,
34branch, or distributor concerning the business affairs or operations
35of a franchisee in which the manufacturer, branch, or distributor
36does not have an ownership interest. The information includes,
37but is not limited to, information contained in financial statements
38and operating reports, the name, address, or other personal
39information or buying, leasing, or service
behavior of a dealer
40customer, and other information that, if provided to a franchisee
P12 1or dealer owned or controlled by a manufacturer or distributor,
2would give that franchisee or dealer a competitive advantage. This
3clause does not apply if the information is provided pursuant to a
4subpoena or court order, or to aggregated information made
5available to all franchisees.
6(iv) Sales or service incentives, discounts, or promotional
7programs that are not made available to all California franchises
8of the same line-make on an equal basis.
9(B) Referring a prospective purchaser or lessee to a dealer in
10which a manufacturer, branch, or distributor has an ownership
11interest, unless the prospective purchaser or lessee resides in the
12area of responsibility assigned to that dealer or
the prospective
13purchaser or lessee requests to be referred to that dealer. For
14purposes of this subparagraph, the term “area of responsibility”
15means a geographic area specified in a franchise that is used by
16the franchisor for the purpose of evaluating the franchisee’s
17performance of its sales and service obligations.
18(2) This subdivision does not prohibit a franchisor from granting
19a franchise to prospective franchisees or assisting those franchisees
20during the course of the franchise relationship as part of a program
21or programs to make franchises available to persons lacking capital,
22training, business experience, or other qualifications ordinarily
23required of prospective franchisees.
24(v) (1) To access, modify, or extract information from a
25confidential
dealer computer record, as defined in Section
2611713.25, without obtaining the prior written consent of the dealer
27and without maintaining administrative, technical, and physical
28safeguards to protect the security, confidentiality, and integrity of
29the information.
30(2) Paragraph (1) does not limit a duty that a dealer may have
31to safeguard the security and privacy of records maintained by the
32dealer.
33(w) (1) To use electronic, contractual, or other means to prevent
34or interfere with any of the following:
35(A) The lawful efforts of a dealer to comply with federal and
36state data security and privacy laws.
37(B) The ability of a dealer to do either of the following:
38(i) Ensure that specific data accessed from the dealer’s computer
39system is within the scope of consent specified in subdivision (v).
P13 1(ii) Monitor specific data accessed from or written to the dealer’s
2computer system.
3(2) Paragraph (1) does not limit a duty that a dealer may have
4to safeguard the security and privacy of records maintained by the
5dealer.
6(x) (1) To unfairly discriminate against a franchisee selling a
7service contract, debt cancellation agreement, maintenance
8agreement, or similar product not approved, endorsed, sponsored,
9or offered by the manufacturer, manufacturer branch, distributor,
10or
distributor branch or affiliate. For purposes of this subdivision,
11unfair discrimination includes, but is not limited to, any of the
12following:
13(A) Express or implied statements that the dealer is under an
14obligation to exclusively sell or offer to sell service contracts, debt
15cancellation agreements, or similar products approved, endorsed,
16sponsored, or offered by the manufacturer, manufacturer branch,
17distributor, or distributor branch or affiliate.
18(B) Express or implied statements that selling or offering to sell
19service contracts, debt cancellation agreements, maintenance
20agreements, or similar products not approved, endorsed, sponsored,
21or offered by the manufacturer, manufacturer branch, distributor,
22or distributor branch or affiliate, or the failure to sell or offer to
23sell
service contracts, debt cancellation agreements, maintenance
24agreements, or similar products approved, endorsed, sponsored,
25or offered by the manufacturer, manufacturer branch, distributor,
26or distributor branch or affiliate will have any negative
27consequences for the dealer.
28(C) Measuring a dealer’s performance under a franchise
29agreement based upon the sale of service contracts, debt
30cancellation agreements, or similar products approved, endorsed,
31sponsored, or offered by the manufacturer, manufacturer branch,
32distributor, or distributor branch or affiliate.
33(D) Requiring a dealer to actively promote the sale of service
34contracts, debt cancellation agreements, or similar products
35approved, endorsed, sponsored, or offered by the manufacturer,
36manufacturer branch, distributor,
or distributor branch or affiliate.
37(E) Conditioning access to vehicles or parts, or vehicle sales or
38service incentives upon the sale of service contracts, debt
39cancellation agreements, or similar products approved, endorsed,
P14 1sponsored, or offered by the manufacturer, manufacturer branch,
2distributor, or distributor branch or affiliate.
3(2) Unfair discrimination does not include, and nothing shall
4prohibit a manufacturer from, offering an incentive program to
5vehicle dealers who voluntarily sell or offer to sell service
6contracts, debt cancellation agreements, or similar products
7approved, endorsed, sponsored, or offered by the manufacturer,
8manufacturer branch, distributor, or distributor branch or affiliate,
9if the program does not provide vehicle sales or service incentives.
10(3) This subdivision does not prohibit a manufacturer,
11manufacturer branch, distributor, or distributor branch from
12requiring a franchisee that sells a used vehicle as “certified” under
13a certified used vehicle program established by the manufacturer,
14manufacturer branch, distributor, or distributor branch to provide
15a service contract approved, endorsed, sponsored, or offered by
16the manufacturer, manufacturer branch, distributor, or distributor
17branch.
18(4) Unfair discrimination does not include, and nothing shall
19prohibit a franchisor from requiring a franchisee to provide, the
20following notice prior to the sale of the service contract if the
21service contract is not provided or backed by the franchisor and
22the vehicle is of the franchised line-make:
23
24“Service
Contract Disclosure
25The service contract you are purchasing is not provided or backed
26by the manufacturer of the vehicle you are purchasing. The
27manufacturer of the vehicle is not responsible for claims or repairs
28under this service contract.
29_____________________
30Signature of Purchaser”
32(y) begin insert(1)end insertbegin insert end insert To take or threaten to take any adverse action against
33a dealer pursuant to an export or sale-for-resale prohibition because
34the dealer sold or leased a vehicle to a customer who either
35exported the vehicle to a foreign country or resold the vehicle in
36violation of the
prohibition,
if the dealer causes the vehicle to be
37registered in this or any other state, and collects or causes to be
38collected any applicable sales or use tax due to this state.
39(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the manufacturer,
40manufacturer branch, distributor, or distributor branch may take
P15 1an adverse action against a dealer only when a vehicle is either
2exported to a foreign county or resold in violation of an export or
3sale-for-resale prohibition policy if the manufacturer, manufacturer
4branch, distributor, or distributor branch provided the policy and
5a known exporter list in writing to the dealer at least five business
6days before the sale or lease of the vehicle and the dealer sold or
7leased the vehicle to a person listed as a known exporter.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
9Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
10the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
11district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
12infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
13for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of
14the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within
15the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
16Constitution.
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