SB0027

SENATE BILL 27

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2018

INTRODUCED BY

Clemente Sanchez and William H. Payne

AN ACT

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE DEALERS; ALPHABETIZING THE DEFINITIONS OF CHAPTER 57, ARTICLE 16 NMSA 1978 AND ADDING FOUR NEW DEFINITIONS; PROSCRIBING UNLAWFUL ACTS OF MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS; REQUIRING COMPENSATION FOR REPAIRS TO A VEHICLE SUBJECT TO RECALL, A DO NOT DRIVE ORDER OR STOP SALE ORDER; REQUIRING A MANUFACTURER TO PROVIDE A FRANCHISE DEALER WITH THE PARTS NECESSARY TO REPAIR A USED MOTOR VEHICLE SUBJECT TO A DO NOT DRIVE ORDER OR STOP SALE ORDER; PROHIBITING THE DENIAL OF CLAIMS BASED ON TECHNICAL ERRORS; PRESCRIBING REMEDIES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

SECTION 1. Section 57-16-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1973, Chapter 6, Section 3, as amended by Laws 2010, Chapter 38, Section 1 and by Laws 2010, Chapter 40, Section 1) is amended to read:

"57-16-3. DEFINITIONS.--As used in Chapter 57, Article 16 NMSA 1978:

[A. "motor vehicle" means every self-propelled vehicle, having two or more wheels, by which a person or property may be transported on a public highway and includes recreational vehicles;

B. "motor vehicle dealer" or "dealer" means any person who sells or solicits or advertises the sale of new or used motor vehicles. "Motor vehicle dealer" or "dealer" shall not include:

(1) receivers, trustees, administrators, executors, guardians or other persons appointed by or acting under judgment, decree or order of any court;

(2) public officers while performing their duties as such officers;

(3) persons making casual sales of their own vehicles duly registered and licensed to them by the state; or

(4) finance companies, banks and other lending institutions covering sales of repossessed vehicles;

C. "person" means every natural person, partnership, corporation, association, trust, estate or any other legal entity;

D. "prospective purchaser" means a person who has a bona fide written agreement to purchase a franchise;

E. "manufacturer" means any person who manufactures or assembles new motor vehicles either within or outside of this state and may include a predecessor manufacturer or a successor manufacturer;

F. "distributor" means any person who distributes or sells new or used motor vehicles to dealers and who is not a manufacturer;

G. "representative" means any person who is or acts as an agent, employee or representative of a manufacturer or distributor and who performs any duties in this state relating to promoting the distribution or sale of new or used motor vehicles or contacts dealers in this state on behalf of a manufacturer or distributor;

H. "franchise" means an oral or written arrangement for a definite or indefinite period in which a manufacturer, distributor or representative grants to a motor vehicle dealer a license to use a trade name, service mark or related characteristic and in which there is a community of interest in the marketing of motor vehicles or services related to marketing, service or repair of motor vehicles at wholesale, retail, leasing or otherwise;

I. "fraud" includes, in addition to its normal legal connotation, the following:

(1) a misrepresentation in any manner, whether intentionally false or due to gross negligence, of a material fact;

(2) a promise or representation not made honestly and in good faith; and

(3) an intentional failure to disclose a material fact;

J. "sale" includes:

(1) the issuance, transfer, agreement for transfer, exchange, pledge, hypothecation or mortgage in any form, whether by transfer in trust or otherwise, of any motor vehicle or interest therein or of any franchise related thereto; and

(2) any option, subscription or other contract or solicitation looking to a sale or offer or attempt to sell in any form, whether spoken or written. A gift or delivery of any motor vehicle or franchise with respect thereto with, or as, a bonus on account of the sale of anything shall be deemed a sale of such motor vehicle or franchise;

K. "motorcycle" means any motor vehicle used on or off a public highway that has an unladen weight of less than one thousand five hundred pounds;

L. "recreational vehicle" means any motor vehicle with a camping body that either has its own motive power or is drawn by another vehicle;

M. "designated family member" means a spouse, child, grandchild, parent, brother or sister of a deceased or incapacitated dealer who is entitled to inherit the dealer's ownership interest in the dealership under the terms of a will or the laws of intestate succession in this state. In the case of an incapacitated dealer, the term means the person appointed by a court as the legal representative of the dealer's property. The term also includes the appointed and qualified personal representative and the testamentary trustee of a deceased dealer. However, the term shall be limited to mean only that individual designated by a dealer in a written document filed with the manufacturer, distributor or representative in the event that such a document has been filed;

N. "current price" means an amount equal to the price listed in the manufacturer's or distributor's printed price list in effect when the franchise is terminated, less applicable trade and cash discounts;

O. "dealer cost" means an amount equal to the sum of the original invoice price that the dealer paid for inventory and the cost of the delivery of the inventory from the manufacturer or distributor to the dealer, less applicable discounts;

P. "inventory" means new or unused motorcycles, motor vehicles, motorcycle attachments and motorcycle and motor vehicle repair parts that are provided by a manufacturer or distributor to a dealer under a franchise agreement and that are purchased within thirty-six months of the termination of the franchise or are listed in the manufacturer's or distributor's current sales manual or price list at the time that the franchise is terminated;

Q. "relevant market area" means an area of a size specified in this subsection around an existing motor vehicle dealer's place of business. The size of the area shall be the greater of the area of responsibility specified in the dealer's franchise or a circle with a center at the dealer's place of business and a radius of:

(1) seven miles, if the population of the county in which the dealership is located is two hundred fifty thousand or more;

(2) fifteen miles, if the population of the county in which the dealership is located is less than two hundred fifty thousand but is thirty-five thousand or more; or

(3) twenty miles in all other cases.

If the existing and proposed dealerships are in different counties, the lesser of the applicable mileage limitations shall be used. For purposes of this subsection, the population of any area shall be determined in accordance with the most recent decennial census or the most recent population update from the national planning data corporation or other similar recognized source, whichever is later;

R. "successor manufacturer" means a motor vehicle manufacturer that, on or after January 1, 2010, acquires, succeeds to or assumes any part of the business of a predecessor manufacturer as the result of:

(1) a change in ownership, operation or control of the predecessor manufacturer;

(2) the termination, suspension or cessation of all or a part of the business operation of the predecessor manufacturer;

(3) the discontinuance of the sale of a product line; or

(4) a change in the distribution system by the predecessor manufacturer, whether through a change in distributor or the predecessor manufacturer's decision to cease conducting business through a distributor;

S. "predecessor manufacturer" means a manufacturer that is acquired, succeeded by or assumed by a successor manufacturer; and

T. "former franchisee":

(1) means a dealer that has entered into a franchise agreement with a manufacturer and that has:

(a) entered into a termination agreement or deferred termination agreement with the manufacturer related to the franchise; or

(b) has had the franchise canceled, terminated or otherwise ended; and

(2) includes the designated successor of the former franchisee in the event the former franchisee is deceased or disabled]

A. "current price" means an amount equal to the price listed in the manufacturer's or distributor's printed price list in effect when the franchise is terminated, less applicable trade and cash discounts;

B. "dealer cost" means an amount equal to the sum of the original invoice price that the dealer paid for inventory and the cost of the delivery of the inventory from the manufacturer or distributor to the dealer, less applicable discounts;

C. "designated family member" means a spouse, child, grandchild, parent, brother or sister of a deceased or incapacitated dealer who is entitled to inherit the dealer's ownership interest in the dealership under the terms of a will or the laws of intestate succession in this state. In the case of an incapacitated dealer, the term means the person appointed by a court as the legal representative of the dealer's property. The term also includes the appointed and qualified personal representative and the testamentary trustee of a deceased dealer. However, the term shall be limited to mean only that individual designated by a dealer in a written document filed with the manufacturer, distributor or representative in the event that such a document has been filed;

D. "distributor" means any person who distributes or sells new or used motor vehicles to dealers and who is not a manufacturer;

E. "do not drive order" means a notice issued by the federal government or a manufacturer advising a motor vehicle dealer or an owner of a motor vehicle not to drive the vehicle until the vehicle has been repaired because the vehicle has a safety defect, fails to comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard or fails to comply with an emissions standard;

F. "former franchisee":

(1) means a dealer that has entered into a franchise agreement with a manufacturer and that has:

(a) entered into a termination agreement or deferred termination agreement with the manufacturer related to the franchise; or

(b) has had the franchise canceled, terminated or otherwise ended; and

(2) includes the designated successor of the former franchisee in the event the former franchisee is deceased or disabled;

G. "franchise" means an oral or written arrangement for a definite or indefinite period in which a manufacturer, distributor or representative grants to a motor vehicle dealer a license to use a trade name, service mark or related characteristic and in which there is a community of interest in the marketing of motor vehicles or services related to marketing, service or repair of motor vehicles at wholesale, retail, leasing or otherwise;

H. "fraud" includes, in addition to its normal legal connotation, the following:

(1) a misrepresentation in any manner, whether intentionally false or due to gross negligence, of a material fact;

(2) a promise or representation not made honestly and in good faith; and

(3) an intentional failure to disclose a material fact;

I. "inventory" means new or unused motorcycles, motor vehicles, motorcycle attachments and motorcycle and motor vehicle repair parts that are provided by a manufacturer or distributor to a dealer under a franchise agreement and that are purchased within thirty-six months of the termination of the franchise or are listed in the manufacturer's or distributor's current sales manual or price list at the time that the franchise is terminated;

J. "manufacturer" means any person who manufactures or assembles new motor vehicles either within or outside of this state and may include a predecessor manufacturer or a successor manufacturer;

K. "motorcycle" means any motor vehicle used on or off a public highway that has an unladen weight of less than one thousand five hundred pounds;

L. "motor vehicle" means every self-propelled vehicle, having two or more wheels, by which a person or property may be transported on a public highway and includes recreational vehicles;

M. "motor vehicle dealer" or "dealer" means a person who sells or solicits or advertises the sale of new or used motor vehicles and is licensed as a dealer pursuant to the Motor Vehicle Code. "Motor vehicle dealer" or "dealer" shall not include:

(1) receivers, trustees, administrators, executors, guardians or other persons appointed by or acting under judgment, decree or order of any court;

(2) public officers while performing their duties as such officers;

(3) persons making casual sales of their own vehicles duly registered and licensed to them by the state; or

(4) finance companies, banks and other lending institutions covering sales of repossessed vehicles;

N. "person" means every natural person, partnership, corporation, association, trust, estate or any other legal entity;

O. "predecessor manufacturer" means a manufacturer that is acquired, succeeded by or assumed by a successor manufacturer;

P. "prospective purchaser" means a person who has a bona fide written agreement to purchase a franchise;

Q. "recall claim" includes a claim for reimbursement for the parts and labor required for a dealer to repair a motor vehicle subject to a do not drive order or stop sale order;

R. "recreational vehicle" means any motor vehicle with a camping body that either has its own motive power or is drawn by another vehicle;

S. "relevant market area" means an area of a size specified in this subsection around an existing motor vehicle dealer's place of business. The size of the area shall be the greater of the area of responsibility specified in the dealer's franchise or a circle with a center at the dealer's place of business and a radius of:

(1) seven miles, if the population of the county in which the dealership is located is two hundred fifty thousand or more;

(2) fifteen miles, if the population of the county in which the dealership is located is less than two hundred fifty thousand but is thirty-five thousand or more; or

(3) twenty miles in all other cases.

T. "representative" means any person who is or acts as an agent, employee or representative of a manufacturer or distributor and who performs any duties in this state relating to promoting the distribution or sale of new or used motor vehicles or contacts dealers in this state on behalf of a manufacturer or distributor;

U. "sale" includes:

V. "stop sale order" means a notice issued by the federal government or a manufacturer prohibiting a motor vehicle dealer from leasing or selling and delivering at wholesale or retail a motor vehicle in the inventory of the dealer until the vehicle has been repaired because the vehicle has a safety defect, fails to comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard or fails to comply with an emissions standard;

W. "successor manufacturer" means a motor vehicle manufacturer that, on or after January 1, 2010, acquires, succeeds to or assumes any part of the business of a predecessor manufacturer as the result of:

(1) a change in ownership, operation or control of the predecessor manufacturer;

(2) the termination, suspension or cessation of all or a part of the business operation of the predecessor manufacturer;

(3) the discontinuance of the sale of a product line; or

X. "value of the used motor vehicle" means the average trade-in value indicated in an independent third party guide for a used motor vehicle of the same year, make, model and mileage."

SECTION 2. Section 57-16-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1973, Chapter 6, Section 5, as amended) is amended to read:

"57-16-5. UNLAWFUL ACTS--MANUFACTURERS--DISTRIBUTORS-- REPRESENTATIVES.--It is unlawful for a manufacturer, distributor or representative to:

A. coerce or attempt to coerce a dealer to order or accept delivery of a motor vehicle, appliances, equipment, parts or accessories therefor or any other commodity that the motor vehicle dealer has not voluntarily ordered;

B. coerce or attempt to coerce a dealer to order or accept delivery of a motor vehicle with special features, appliances, accessories or equipment not included in the list price of the motor vehicles as publicly advertised by the manufacturer;

C. coerce or attempt to coerce a dealer to order for any person any parts, accessories, equipment, machinery, tools, appliances or any commodity whatsoever;

D. refuse to deliver, in reasonable quantities and within a reasonable time after receipt of dealer's order, to a motor vehicle dealer having a franchise or contractual arrangement for the retail sale of motor vehicles sold or distributed by the manufacturer, distributor or representative, those motor vehicles, parts or accessories covered by the franchise or contract specifically publicly advertised by the manufacturer, distributor or representative to be available for immediate delivery; provided, however, the failure to deliver a motor vehicle, parts or accessories shall not be considered a violation of Chapter 57, Article 16 NMSA 1978 if the failure is due to an act of God, work stoppage or delay due to a strike or labor difficulty, shortage of materials, freight embargo or other cause over which the manufacturer, distributor or representative or an agent thereof has no control;

E. coerce or attempt to coerce a motor vehicle dealer to enter into an agreement with the manufacturer, distributor or representative or to do any other act prejudicial to the dealer by threatening to cancel a franchise or a contractual agreement existing between the manufacturer, distributor or representative and the dealer; provided, however, that notice in good faith to a motor vehicle dealer of the dealer's violation of the terms or provisions of the franchise or contractual agreement does not constitute a violation of Chapter 57, Article 16 NMSA 1978;

F. terminate or cancel the franchise or selling agreement of a dealer without due cause. "Due cause" means a material breach by a dealer, due to matters within the dealer's control, of a lawful provision of a franchise or selling agreement. As used in this subsection, "material breach" means a contract violation that is substantial and significant. In determining whether due cause exists under this subsection, the court shall take into consideration only the dealer's sales in relation to the business available to the dealer; the dealer's investment and obligations; injury to the public welfare; the adequacy of the dealer's sales and service facilities, equipment and parts; the qualifications of the management, sales and service personnel to provide the consumer with reasonably good service and care of new motor vehicles; the dealer's failure to comply with the requirements of the franchise; and the harm to the manufacturer or distributor. The nonrenewal of a franchise or selling agreement, without due cause, shall constitute an unfair termination or cancellation regardless of the terms or provisions of the franchise or selling agreement. The manufacturer, distributor or representative shall notify a motor vehicle dealer in writing by registered mail of the termination or cancellation of the franchise or selling agreement of the dealer at least sixty days before the effective date thereof, stating the specific grounds for termination or cancellation; and the manufacturer, distributor or representative shall notify a motor vehicle dealer in writing by registered mail at least sixty days before the contractual term of the dealer's franchise or selling agreement expires that it will not be renewed, stating the specific grounds for nonrenewal in those cases where there is no intention to renew, and in no event shall the contractual term of a franchise or selling agreement expire without the written consent of the motor vehicle dealer involved prior to the expiration of at least sixty days following the written notice. During the sixty-day period, either party may in appropriate circumstances petition a district court to modify the sixty-day stay or to extend it pending a final determination of proceedings on the merits. The court may grant preliminary and final injunctive relief;

G. use false, deceptive or misleading advertising in connection with the manufacturer's, distributor's or representative's business;

H. offer to sell or to sell a motor vehicle to a motor vehicle dealer in this or any other state of the United States at a lower actual price than the actual price offered to any other motor vehicle dealer in this state for the same model vehicle similarly equipped or to utilize devices, including sales promotion plans or programs that result in a lesser actual price; provided, however, the provisions of this subsection do not apply to sales to a motor vehicle dealer for resale to a unit of the United States government, the state or its political subdivisions; and provided, further, the provisions of this subsection do not apply to sales to a motor vehicle dealer of a motor vehicle ultimately sold, donated or used by the dealer in a driver education program; and provided, further, that the provisions of this subsection do not apply if a manufacturer, distributor or representative offers to sell or sells new motor vehicles to all motor vehicle dealers at an equal price. As used in this section, "actual price" means the price to be paid by the dealer less any incentive paid by the manufacturer, distributor or representative, whether paid to the dealer or the ultimate purchaser of the vehicle. This provision does not apply to sales by the manufacturer, distributor or representatives to the United States government or its agencies. The provisions of this subsection dealing with vehicle prices in another state and defining actual price do not apply to a manufacturer or distributor if all of the manufacturer's or distributor's dealers within fifty miles of a neighboring state are given all cash or credit incentives available in the neighboring state, whether the incentives are offered by the manufacturer or distributor or a finance subsidiary of either, affecting the price or financing terms of a vehicle;

I. willfully discriminate, either directly or indirectly, in price between different purchasers of a commodity of like grade or quality where the effect of the discrimination may be to lessen substantially competition or tend to create a monopoly or to injure or destroy the business of a competitor;

J. offer to sell or to sell parts or accessories to a motor vehicle dealer for use in the dealer's own business for the purpose of repairing or replacing the same or a comparable part or accessory at a lower actual price than the actual price charged to any other motor vehicle dealer for similar parts or accessories for use in the dealer's own business; provided, however, in those cases where motor vehicle dealers have a franchise to operate and serve as wholesalers of parts and accessories to retail outlets or other dealers, whether or not the dealer is regularly designated as a wholesaler, nothing in this section prevents a manufacturer, distributor or representative from selling to the motor vehicle dealer who operates and serves as a wholesaler of parts and accessories such parts and accessories as may be ordered by the motor vehicle dealer for resale to retail outlets at a lower actual price than the actual price charged a motor vehicle dealer who does not operate or serve as a wholesaler of parts and accessories;

K. prevent or attempt to prevent by contract or otherwise a motor vehicle dealer from changing the capital structure of the dealer's dealership or the means by or through which the dealer finances the operation of the dealership, if the dealer at all times meets any reasonable capital standards agreed to between the dealer and the manufacturer, distributor or representative, and if the change by the dealer does not result in a change in the executive management control of the dealership;

L. prevent or attempt to prevent by contract or otherwise a motor vehicle dealer or an officer, partner or stockholder of a motor vehicle dealer from selling or transferring a part of the interest of any of them to any other person or party; provided, however, that no dealer, officer, partner or stockholder shall have the right to sell, transfer or assign the franchise or power of management or control thereunder without the consent of the manufacturer, distributor or representative except that the manufacturer, distributor or representative shall not withhold consent to the sale, transfer or assignment of the franchise to a qualified buyer capable of being licensed in New Mexico and who meets the manufacturer's or distributor's uniformly applied requirement for appointment as a dealer. Uniform application shall not prevent the application of a separate standard of consent for sale, transfer or assignment to minority or women dealer candidates, and shall not require the application of an identical standard to all persons in all situations. The requirement of uniform application shall be met if the manufacturer applies the same set of standards, which takes into account business performance and experience, financial qualifications, facility requirements and other relevant characteristics; provided that, if two dealers, persons or situations are identical, given the characteristics considered in the standards, the two dealers, persons or situations shall be treated identically, except as provided in this subsection. Upon request, a manufacturer or distributor shall provide its dealer with a copy of the standards that are normally relied upon by the manufacturer or distributor to evaluate a proposed sale, transfer or assignment. A manufacturer, distributor or representative shall send a letter by certified mail approving or withholding consent within sixty calendar days of receiving the completed application forms and related information requested by a manufacturer or distributor as provided below. A manufacturer, distributor or representative shall send its existing motor vehicle dealer the necessary application forms and identify the related information required within twenty calendar days of receiving written notice from the existing motor vehicle dealer of the proposed sale or transfer. No manufacturer, distributor or representative shall require any information not requested in the twenty-day period, and submission of the information requested within that period together with a completed form of the application provided shall constitute a completed application form. A request for consent shall be deemed granted, and the manufacturer, distributor or representative shall be estopped from denying the consent, if the consent has not been expressly withheld during the applicable sixty-day period;

M. obtain money, goods, services, anything of value or any other benefit from any other person with whom the motor vehicle dealer does business on account of or in relation to the transactions between the dealer and the other person, unless the benefit is promptly accounted for and transmitted to the motor vehicle dealer;

N. require a motor vehicle dealer to assent to a release, assignment, novation, waiver or estoppel that would relieve a person from liability imposed by Chapter 57, Article 16 NMSA 1978;

O. require a motor vehicle dealer to provide installment financing with a specified financial institution;

P. establish an additional franchise, including any franchise for a warranty or service facility outside of the relevant market area of the dealer establishing the facility, but excluding the relocation of existing franchises, for the same line-make in a relevant market area where the same line-make is presently being served by an existing motor vehicle dealer if such addition would be inequitable to the existing dealer; provided, however, that the sales and service needs of the public shall be given due consideration in determining the equities of the existing dealer. The sole fact that the manufacturer, distributor or representative desires further penetration of the market is not grounds for establishing an additional franchise; provided, further, that the manufacturer, distributor or representative shall give a ninety-day written notice by registered mail to all same line-make dealers in a relevant market area of its intention to establish an additional franchise;

Q. offer to sell or lease or to sell or lease a new motor vehicle to a person, except a distributor, at a lower actual price therefor than the actual price offered and charged to a motor vehicle dealer for the same model vehicle similarly equipped or to utilize any device that results in a lower actual price;

R. sell, lease or provide motorcycles, parts or accessories to a person not a dealer or distributor for the line-make sold, leased or provided. The provisions of this subsection do not apply to sales, leases or provisions of motor vehicles, parts or accessories by a manufacturer, distributor or representative to the United States government or its agencies or the state or its political subdivisions;

S. offer a finance program, either directly or through an affiliate, based on the physical location of the selling dealer or the residence of the buyer. The provisions of this subsection do not apply to a manufacturer or distributor that has no dealer within fifty miles of a state line or if all of the manufacturer's or distributor's dealers within that fifty miles are given all cash or credit incentives available in the neighboring state, whether the incentives are offered by the manufacturer or the distributor or a finance subsidiary of either, affecting the price or financing terms of a vehicle;

T. force a dealer to sell or relocate a franchise with another manufacturer located at the same physical location or consider the existence of another line-make at a dealership for product allocation, successorship, location approval and capitalization; provided that a manufacturer or distributor may require that the dealer:

(1) meet the manufacturer's capitalization requirements;

(2) meet the manufacturer's facilities requirements; and

(3) not have committed fraudulent acts;

U. enforce a right of first refusal or option to purchase the dealership by a manufacturer or distributor or to require a dealer to grant a right or option to a manufacturer or distributor;

V. be licensed as a dealer or perform warranty or other service or own an interest, directly or indirectly, in a person licensed as a dealer or performing warranty or other service; provided that a manufacturer or distributor may own a person licensed as a dealer for a reasonable time in order to dispose of an interest acquired as a secured party or as part of a dealer development program;

W. fail to recognize and approve the transfer of a dealership to a person named as a successor, donee, beneficiary or devisee in a valid testamentary or trust instrument; provided that a manufacturer or distributor may impose standards or criteria used in a transfer;

X. impose capitalization requirements not necessary to assure that the dealer can meet its financial obligations;

Y. compel a dealer through a finance subsidiary of the manufacturer or distributor to agree to unreasonable operating requirements or directly or indirectly to terminate a dealer, except as allowed by Subsection F of this section, through the actions of a finance subsidiary of the manufacturer or distributor. This subsection shall not limit the right of a financing entity to engage in business practices in accordance with the usage of the trade in which it is engaged;

Z. require a dealer or the dealer's successor to:

(1) construct a new dealership, require the relocation of an existing dealership or substantially change, alter or remodel a dealer's facility except as necessary to comply with health or safety laws or to comply with technology requirements necessary to sell or service vehicles; or

(2) construct a new dealership, require relocation of an existing dealership or substantially change, alter or remodel an existing dealership before the tenth anniversary of the date that the construction or change, alteration or remodel of the dealership at that location was completed if the construction was in substantial compliance with standards or plans provided by a manufacturer, distributor or representative; [or]

AA. unreasonably withhold approval for a dealer to purchase substantially similar goods or services related to the construction, alteration, remodel or renovation of a dealership facility from vendors of the dealer's choice. This subsection shall not be construed to allow a dealer or vendor to infringe upon or impair a manufacturer's trademark rights or to erect or maintain a sign that does not conform to the manufacturer's reasonable fabrication specifications and trademark usage guidelines;

BB. discriminate, directly or indirectly, or to use an unreasonable, arbitrary or unfair sales or other performance standard in determining a franchise motor vehicle dealer's compliance with a franchise agreement. The manufacturer has the burden of proving the reasonableness of its performance standards by clear and convincing evidence;

CC. fail to compensate a motor vehicle dealer for reconditioning expenses or for labor and parts required for a dealer to repair a new or used vehicle that is subject to a recall, do not drive order or stop sale order, if the dealer holds a franchise of the same line-make as the vehicle;

DD. fail to compensate a motor vehicle dealer as prescribed by Chapter 57, Article 16 NMSA 1978 for a delay in delivering parts or equipment needed to repair a used motor vehicle that is subject to a do not drive order or stop sale order, if the dealer holds a franchise of the same line-make as the vehicle;

EE. reduce compensation to a motor vehicle dealer, process a charge back to a dealer, reduce the amount that the manufacturer owes a dealer under an incentive program or remove a dealer from an incentive program in response to the dealer submitting a claim or receiving compensation for a claim. This subsection does not prohibit a manufacturer from modifying or discontinuing an incentive program prospectively or from making ordinary business decisions; or

FF. use any data, calculations or statistical determinations of the sales performance of a motor vehicle dealer for any purpose for any period of time during which the dealer has at least three percent of its total new and used motor vehicle inventory subject to a stop sale order or do not drive order."

SECTION 3. Section 57-16-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1973, Chapter 6, Section 7, as amended by Laws 2011, Chapter 111, Section 1 and by Laws 2011, Chapter 118, Section 1) is amended to read:

"57-16-7. WARRANTY AND RECALL CLAIMS--PAYMENT.--

A. Each manufacturer shall specify in its franchise agreement, or in a separate written agreement, with each of its dealers licensed in this state, the dealer's obligation to perform warranty work or service on the manufacturer's products.

B. Each manufacturer shall provide each of its dealers with a schedule of compensation to be paid to the dealer for [any] recall claims or warranty work or service, including parts, labor and diagnostic work, required of the dealer by the manufacturer in connection with the manufacturer's products. The schedule of compensation for a recall or warranty claim shall not be less than the rates charged by the dealer for similar service to retail customers for nonwarranty service and repairs and shall not be less than the schedule of compensation for an existing dealer as of July 1, 2011.

[B.] C. The rates charged by the dealer for nonwarranty service or work for parts means the price paid by the dealer for those parts, including all shipping and other charges, increased by the franchisee's average percentage markup. A dealer shall establish and declare the dealer's average percentage markup by submitting to the manufacturer one hundred sequential customer-paid service repair orders or ninety days of customer-paid service repair orders, whichever is less, covering repairs made no more than one hundred eighty days before the submission. A change in a dealer's established average percentage markup takes effect thirty days following the submission. A manufacturer shall not require a dealer to establish average percentage markup by another methodology. A manufacturer shall not require information that the dealer believes is unduly burdensome or time-consuming to provide, including [but not limited to] part-by-part or transaction-by-transaction calculations.

[C.] D. A manufacturer shall compensate a dealer for labor and diagnostic work pursuant to a recall or warranty claim at the rates charged by the dealer to its retail customers for such work. If a manufacturer can demonstrate that the rates unreasonably exceed those of all other franchised motor vehicle dealers in the same relevant market area offering the same or a competitive motor vehicle line, the manufacturer is not required to honor the rate increase proposed by the dealer. If the manufacturer is not required to honor the rate increase proposed by the dealer, the dealer is entitled to resubmit a new proposed rate for labor and diagnostic work.

[D.] E. A dealer shall not be granted an increase in the average percentage markup or labor and diagnostic work rate more than twice in one calendar year.

[E.] F. All recall or warranty claims [for warranty work] for parts and labor made by dealers under this section shall be submitted to the manufacturer within one year of the date the work was performed. All claims submitted must be paid by the manufacturer within thirty days following receipt, provided that the claim has been approved by the manufacturer. The manufacturer has the right to audit claims [for warranty work] and to charge the dealer for any unsubstantiated, incorrect or false claims for a period of six months following payment. However, the manufacturer may audit and charge the dealer for any fraudulent claims during any period for which an action for fraud may be commenced under applicable state law.

[F.] G. All claims submitted by dealers on the forms and in the manner specified by the manufacturer shall be either approved or disapproved within thirty days following their receipt. The manufacturer shall notify the dealer in writing of any disapproved claim and shall set forth the reasons why the claim was not approved. Any claim not specifically disapproved in writing within thirty days following receipt is approved, and the manufacturer is required to pay that claim within thirty days of receipt of the claim.

[G.] H. A manufacturer may not [otherwise] recover [all or any portion of] its costs for compensating its dealers licensed in this state for a recall or warranty [parts and service] claim either by reduction in the amount due to the dealer or by separate charge, surcharge or other imposition.

I. A manufacturer, distributor or representative shall not deny a claim by a dealer for performing a covered warranty repair or required recall, do not drive order or stop sale order repair on a motor vehicle if the dealer discovered the need for the repair during the course of a separate repair request by the customer.

[H.] J. The provisions of this section shall not apply to recreational travel trailers or to parts of systems, fixtures, appliances, furnishings, accessories and features of motor homes."

SECTION 4. A new section of Chapter 57, Article 16 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] PROHIBITION ON DENIAL OF CLAIMS BASED ON TECHNICAL ERRORS.--A manufacturer, distributor or representative shall not deny an element of a paid claim, customer or dealer incentive, recall claim or warranty claim based on a dealer's incidental failure to comply with a claim requirement or a clerical error or other technicality, as long as the dealer corrects the clerical error or other technicality according to licensee guidelines. This section applies to a successor manufacturer or distributor."

SECTION 5. A new section of Chapter 57, Article 16 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] USED VEHICLES--DO NOT DRIVE OR STOP SALE ORDERS--DUTY TO PROVIDE PARTS OR EQUIPMENT--COMPENSATION FOR DELAY.--

A. If a manufacturer, a distributor or the federal government issues a stop sale order or do not drive order on a used motor vehicle that is part of a franchise motor vehicle dealer's inventory, the manufacturer or distributor immediately shall give to the dealer the part or equipment needed to make the vehicle comply with the motor vehicle standards or to correct the defect.

B. If a remedy or part necessary to repair a used motor vehicle subject to a stop sale order or do not drive order is not available within thirty days of the issuance of the order, the manufacturer shall compensate a franchise motor vehicle dealer for each affected used motor vehicle in the dealer's inventory at a prorated rate of at least one and one-half percent of the value of the used motor vehicle per month, commencing on the thirtieth day after the order was issued and ending on the date that the remedy or all parts necessary to repair or service the used motor vehicle are made available to the dealer. A manufacturer is not required to compensate a motor vehicle dealer for more than the total value of the used motor vehicle.

C. For the purposes of this section, a used motor vehicle is part of the franchise motor vehicle dealer's inventory if the used motor vehicle is in the possession of the dealer on the date the do not drive order or stop sale order is issued or if the dealer obtains the used motor vehicle as a result of trade-in, lease return or purchase after the date that the order is issued but before the remedy and all parts necessary to repair the used motor vehicle are made available to the dealer. The manufacturer may establish the method by which a dealer demonstrates that an affected motor vehicle is part of the dealer's inventory. The method may not be unreasonable, be unduly burdensome or require the dealer to provide information to the manufacturer that is not necessary for payment."

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