Rivian Automotive, Inc. (RIVN) is contributing $4.6 million to support a citizen-led ballot initiative in Washington state aimed at enabling electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers to sell directly to consumers. This initiative is being spearheaded by the Washington Coalition for Consumer Choice and Innovation, as a response to existing state laws that currently allow only Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) to engage in direct sales.
The coalition needs to collect at least 308,911 valid voter signatures by early July to qualify for the ballot, though they are advised to gather closer to 390,000 to account for invalid entries. Rivian and Lucid Group, Inc. (LCID) currently face restrictions, as they are unable to sell vehicles through their showrooms in Washington. The potential ballot measure aims to enhance EV adoption and assist in meeting the state’s carbon reduction goals, as efforts to pass this legislation previously stalled in the state House.
