Jim Chen, the chief lobbyist for Rivian Automotive Inc., one of the most ambitious electric-vehicle startups, wants to change how people buy cars and trucks. He had some success making that happen last decade at Tesla where he made it easier to purchase models directly from the manufacturer. Now he faces new resistance from a powerful political group: local car dealerships. In the state of Washington, opposition from those dealerships sank a proposal pushed by Mr. Chen that would have allowed electric-vehicle manufacturers to sell from their own stores and bypass dealers. Another potential piece of legislation in Connecticut also died this year.

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