(1) Existing law, known as the Vehicle Leasing Act, specifies requirements for contracts for leases of motor vehicles, including the requirement that the contract contain prescribed information regarding the motor vehicle and the terms of the lease.
This bill would authorize an electric mobility manufacturer to enter into a business transaction, consumer transaction, or government transaction, as those terms are defined, with a consumer for use of an electric mobility manufacturer vehicle and any other membership benefits in exchange for a membership fee or membership initiation fee. The bill would require a membership agreement between an electric mobility manufacturer and a consumer to include specified information, including, but not limited to, a statement of the terms and conditions for the right to use the electric mobility manufacturer vehicle.
This bill would require an electric mobility manufacturer to obtain specified information from a consumer before providing the consumer with an electric mobility manufacturer vehicle, including proof that the consumer has valid insurance or elects to purchase insurance and a copy of the consumer's valid driver's license. The bill would require an electric mobility manufacturer to ensure an electric mobility manufacturer vehicle is registered with the relevant state and local agencies and all fees necessary to operate the vehicle are paid.
This bill would limit the maximum liability of a consumer resulting from damage to an electric mobility manufacturer vehicle in their possession, as specified. The bill would, except as specified, prohibit an electric mobility manufacturer from disclosing identifiable personal information, utilizing electronic tracking information, or disabling a vehicle by using keyless entry technology.
This bill would subject any electric mobility manufacturer that violates any of these provisions to a civil penalty of not less than $100, and not to exceed $2,000, in addition to actual damages plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs, as specified.
(2) Existing law establishes a New Motor Vehicle Board that regulates the activities or practices of a new motor vehicle dealer, manufacturer, manufacturer branch, distributor, distributor branch, or representative. Existing law requires licensing by the Department of Motor Vehicles to perform these activities for specified types of vehicles. Existing law generally requires a manufacturer, manufacturer branch, remanufacturer, remanufacturer branch, distributor, distributor branch, transporter, or dealer of vehicles of a type subject to registration, or snowmobiles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, or trailers of a type subject to identification, to make an application to the department for a license containing a general distinguishing number, and prohibits a person from acting in that capacity without having first been issued that license or temporary permit by the department.
This bill would require an electric mobility manufacturer to obtain the above-described vehicle manufacturer license, which would authorize an electric mobility manufacturer to enter into business, consumer, and government transactions with consumers in this state pursuant to a membership agreement.
Existing law, the Consumer Automotive Recall Safety Act, generally prohibits an applicable dealer or rental car company, as defined, from loaning, renting, or offering for loan or rent a vehicle subject to a manufacturer's recall after receiving a notice of the recall, as specified, until the vehicle has been repaired.
This bill would make an electric mobility manufacturer subject to the Consumer Automotive Recall Safety Act and other requirements relating to recalls and consumer notifications and would require an electric mobility manufacturer to adhere to prescribed standards, including sending a written notice to each consumer in possession of an electric mobility manufacturer vehicle.
This bill would specify that these provisions apply only to electric mobility manufacturers.

Statutes affected:
AB1211: 2985.7 CIV
02/19/21 - Introduced: 2985.7 CIV
03/22/21 - Amended Assembly: 2985.7 CIV
AB 1211: 2985.7 CIV