Sec. 24. (a) This section does not apply to the relocation of a new motor vehicle dealer to a location that is not more than two (2) miles from its established place of business.

(b) This section does not apply to the reopening or replacement in a relevant market area of a closed dealership that was closed within the preceding three hundred sixty-five (365) days, if the established place of business of the reopened or replacement dealer is within two (2) miles of the established place of business of the closed dealership.

(c) This section does not apply to a new motor vehicle dealer located in a county having a population of more than one hundred thousand (100,000) if:

(1) the new motor vehicle dealer relocates to a site that is located at a distance greater than the existing distance of another new motor vehicle dealer of the same line make before the relocation; and

(2) the site of the relocation is outside an area that is within a radius of four (4) miles from another new motor vehicle dealer of the same line make;

but does apply to a new motor vehicle dealer that, before January 1, 2013, had been engaged in the process of relocating but had not physically relocated to the new intended site by January 1, 2013, and to a new motor vehicle dealer that began engaging in the process of relocating on or after January 1, 2013.

(d) Before a franchisor enters into a franchise establishing or relocating a new motor vehicle dealer within a relevant market area where the same line make is represented, the franchisor shall give written notice to each new motor vehicle dealer of the same line make in the relevant market area of the franchisor's intention to establish an additional dealer or to relocate an existing dealer within that relevant market area.

(e) Not later than thirty (30) days after:

(1) receiving the notice provided for in subsection (d); or

(2) the end of any appeal procedure provided by the franchisor;

a new motor vehicle dealer may bring a declaratory judgment action before the division to determine whether good cause exists for the establishing or relocating of a proposed new motor vehicle dealer. If an action is filed under this section, the franchisor may not establish or relocate the proposed new motor vehicle dealer until the division has rendered a decision on the matter. An action brought under this section shall be given precedence over all other matters pending before the division.

(f) In determining whether good cause exists for establishing or relocating an additional new motor vehicle dealer for the same line make, the division shall take into consideration the existing circumstances, including the following:

(1) Permanency of the investment.

(2) Effect on the retail new motor vehicle business and the consuming public in the relevant market area.

(3) Whether it is injurious or beneficial to the public welfare.

(4) Whether the new motor vehicle dealers of the same line make in that relevant market area are providing adequate competition and convenient consumer care for the motor vehicles of that line make in that market area, including the adequacy of motor vehicle sales and qualified service personnel.

(5) Whether the establishment or relocation of the new motor vehicle dealer would promote competition.

(6) Growth or decline of the population and the number of new motor vehicle registrations in the relevant market area.

(7) The effect on the relocating dealer of a denial of its relocation into the relevant market area.

As added by P.L.92-2013, SEC.78.