§1268.  Requirements upon termination; penalty; indemnity

A.(1)  In the event the licensee ceases to engage in the business of being a motor vehicle, recreational products, or specialty vehicle dealer, or ceases to sell a particular make of motor vehicle, recreational product, or specialty vehicle and after notice to the manufacturer, converter, distributor, or representative by certified mail or commercial delivery service with verification of receipt, within thirty days of the receipt of the notice by the manufacturer, converter, distributor, or representative, the manufacturer, converter, distributor, or representative shall repurchase:

(a)  All new motor vehicles, recreational products, and specialty vehicles of the current and last prior model year delivered to the licensee and parts on hand purchased in the ordinary course of business that have not been damaged or substantially altered to the prejudice of the manufacturer while in the possession of the licensee.  As to recreational products dealers, the repurchase of parts shall be limited to those listed in the manufacturer's price book.  The motor vehicles, recreational products, and specialty vehicles and parts shall be repurchased at the cost to the licensee which shall include without limitation freight and advertising costs, less all allowances paid to the dealer, except that new automobiles shall be purchased on the schedule as follows:

(i)  Vehicles with 0 - 1,000 miles at the cost to the licensee.

(ii)  Vehicles with 1,001 - 6,000 miles at the cost to the licensee reduced by the net discount value of each mile in excess of 1,000 miles, where "net discount value" is determined according to the following formula: cost to the licensee multiplied by total mileage in excess of 1,000 miles divided by 100,000, and where "net cost" equals the dealer cost plus any charges by the manufacturer, distributor, or representative for distribution, delivery, advertising, and taxes, less all allowances paid to the dealer by the manufacturer, distributor, or representative for new, unsold, undamaged, and complete motor vehicles.

(iii)  Vehicles with 6,001 miles or over - no obligation to repurchase.

(iv)  Any mileage recorded by a manufacturer in distributing a motor vehicle to a motor vehicle dealer shall not be included in the calculation as provided in this Subparagraph.

(b)  At fair market value, each undamaged sign owned by the dealer which bears a trademark or trade name used or claimed by the manufacturer, converter, distributor, or representative if the sign was purchased from or purchased at the request of the manufacturer, distributor, or representative. Fair market value shall be no less than cost of acquisition of the sign by the dealer.

(c)  At fair market value, all special tools and automotive service equipment owned by the dealer which were recommended in writing and designated as special tools and equipment and purchased in the ordinary course of business from or at the request of the manufacturer, converter, distributor, or representative, if the tools and equipment are in usable and good condition except for reasonable wear and tear.  Fair market value shall be no less than cost of acquisition of special tools and automotive service equipment by the dealer.

(d)  The manufacturer, converter, distributor, or representative shall pay to the dealer the costs of transporting, handling, packing, and loading of recreational product, motor and speciality vehicles, or parts, signs, tools, and equipment subject to repurchase.

(2)(a)  After a motor vehicle dealer terminates his franchise, the manufacturer or converter shall make required repurchases within thirty days after such dealer has satisfied all of the following conditions:

(i)  The motor vehicle dealer submits to the manufacturer, by certified mail, return receipt requested, or commercial delivery service with verification of receipt, a final inventory of motor vehicles and parts, special tools, and automotive services on hand.

(ii)  The motor vehicle dealer tenders the parts, special tools, and automotive service equipment to the manufacturer.

(b)  After a specialty vehicle dealer terminates his franchise, the manufacturer or converter shall make required repurchases within thirty days after such dealer has submitted to the manufacturer by certified mail, return receipt requested, or commercial delivery service with verification of receipt, a final inventory of vehicles and parts on hand.

(c)  After a recreational products dealer terminates his franchise, the manufacturer or converter shall make required repurchases within sixty days after such dealer has submitted to the manufacturer by certified mail, return receipt requested, or commercial delivery service with verification of receipt, a final inventory of vehicles and parts on hand.  This Subparagraph shall not apply to the repurchase of marine products and related items.

B.  Failure to make such repurchase without just cause shall subject the manufacturer or converter to a penalty of one and one-half percent per month, or fraction thereof, of the inventory value or returnable recreational product, specialty and motor vehicles, and parts, signs, special tools, and automotive service equipment, payable to the dealer, as long as the repurchase is not made.

C.(1)  Upon the involuntary termination, nonrenewal, or cancellation of any franchise by the manufacturer or converter, except for termination, nonrenewal, or cancellation resulting from a felony conviction, notwithstanding the terms of any franchise, whether entered into before or after the enactment of this Chapter or any of its provisions, the new motor vehicle or specialty vehicle dealer shall be allowed fair and reasonable compensation by the manufacturer or converter as agreed by the parties, or lacking agreement, as determined by the commission, for the dealership facilities if the facilities were required to be purchased or constructed as a precondition to obtaining the franchise or to its renewal; provided that if such facilities were leased and the lease were required as a precondition to obtaining the franchise or to its renewal, then the manufacturer or converter shall be liable for one year's payment of the rent or the remainder of the term of the lease, whichever is less.

(2)  Payment under this Section shall entitle the manufacturers, converters, or distributors to possession and use of the facility.

(3)  As used in this Section, "manufacturer" shall include a manufacturer, a converter, a distributor, a factory branch, distributor branch, or other subsidiary thereof.

(4)  The obligation of the manufacturer or converter to purchase a dealership facility, pursuant to this Section, is equally applicable if an entity or person affiliated with the dealer is the owner or lessor of the facility.

D.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the provisions of this Section shall not apply to a marine dealer, motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle dealer, or recreational vehicle dealer.

Acts 2005, No. 500, §1, eff. July 12, 2005; Acts 2009, No. 403, §1, eff. July 7, 2009; Acts 2010, No. 1036, §1; Acts 2012, No. 150, §1; Acts 2012, No. 326, §1.