Pros and cons of Fisker's, Tesla's dealership plans

Both Fisker Automotive and Tesla Motors are bringing electric-powered luxury sedans and convertibles to market, but each is going about it in entirely different ways. Fisker's strategy, steered by former BMW and Volvo sales director Vic Doolan, is to license independent dealerships – some of the biggest in the country – to sell their premium green automobiles on their behalf. Tesla's approach, on the other hand, is to set up factory-owned stores which the company likens to Apple stores.
Each approach, of course, has its benefits and drawbacks. For Fisker, makers of the Karma sedan and upcoming Karma Sunset convertible, selling through existing dealers promises to streamline the process and tap into professionals already savvy to the local market and capable of dealing with customer service and the exchange of used cars. Tesla, on the other hand, which makes the Roadster (pictured right at the company's LA store) and upcoming Model S, wants to more directly manage the sales and service process with its own retail outlets, but that comes at the cost of rapid expansion: so far Tesla's only got stores in California, though additional locations are planned for Chicago, New York, Seattle and Washington, London and more.

[Source: Automotive News – subs. req'd]