218.0114 AnnotationSection 180.847 (1) [now s. 180.1502 (1)], prescribing that no foreign corporation transacting business in the state without a certificate of authority shall be permitted to maintain or defend a civil action until it obtains a certificate of authority, and s. 218.01 (2) (bd) 3. [now sub. (2m)], providing that obtaining a license under the motor vehicle dealers law conclusively establishes that a distributor is doing business in this state, have entirely different purposes and meanings. Nagle Motors, Inc. v. Volkswagen North Central Distributor, Inc., 51 Wis. 2d 413, 187 N.W.2d 374 (1971). 218.0114 AnnotationA dealer’s refusal to sell the manufacturer’s products after filing a complaint under s. 218.01 (2) (bd) 2. [now sub. (7) (d)] is a violation of that provision, and consequently of s. 218.01 (3) (a) 4. [now s. 218.0116 (1) (bm)], entitling the manufacturer to treble damages under s. 218.01 (9) (am) [now s. 218.0163]. American Suzuki Motor Corp. v. Bill Kummer, Inc., 65 F.3d 1381 (1995). 218.0116218.0116 Licenses, how denied, suspended or revoked. 218.0116(1)(1) A license may be denied, suspended or revoked on the following grounds: 218.0116(1)(am)(am) Making a material misstatement, or knowingly omitting a material fact, in an application for a license or, in the case of a sales finance company other than a motor vehicle dealer, in information furnished to the nationwide multistate licensing system and registry. Effective date noteNOTE: Par. (am) is shown as amended eff. 1-1-25 by 2023 Wis. Act 267. Prior to 1-1-25 it reads: Effective date text(am) Material misstatement in application for license.
218.0116(1)(b)(b) Filing a materially false or fraudulent income or franchise tax return as certified by the department of revenue. 218.0116(1)(c)(c) Willfully defrauding any retail buyer, lessee or prospective lessee to the buyer’s, lessee’s or prospective lessee’s damage. 218.0116(1)(cm)(cm) Willful failure to perform any written agreement with any retail buyer, lessee or prospective lessee. 218.0116(1)(d)(d) Failure or refusal to furnish and keep in force any bond required. 218.0116(1)(dm)(dm) Having made a fraudulent sale, consumer lease, prelease agreement, transaction or repossession. 218.0116(1)(e)(e) Fraudulent misrepresentation, circumvention or concealment through whatsoever subterfuge or device of any of the material particulars or the nature thereof required hereunder to be stated or furnished to the retail buyer, lessee or prospective lessee. 218.0116(1)(em)(em) Employment of fraudulent devices, methods or practices in connection with compliance with the statutes with respect to the retaking of goods under retail installment contracts or consumer leases and the redemption and resale or subsequent lease of the retaken goods. 218.0116(1)(f)(f) Having engaged in any unconscionable practice relating to the licensed business activity. 218.0116(1)(g)(g) Having sold a retail installment contract or consumer lease to a sales finance company that is not licensed under ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163. 218.0116(1)(gm)(gm) Having violated any law relating to the sale, lease, distribution or financing of motor vehicles. 218.0116(1)(h)(h) Being a manufacturer, importer or distributor who has coerced or attempted to coerce any motor vehicle dealer to order any commodity or service or to accept delivery of or pay for any commodity or service that the motor vehicle dealer has not ordered. This paragraph does not modify or prohibit reasonable requirements in a franchise agreement that require a dealer to market and service a representative line of new motor vehicles that the manufacturer, importer or distributor is publicly advertising. 218.0116(1)(hm)(hm) Being a manufacturer of motor vehicles, factory branch, distributor, field representative, officer, agent or any representative of a motor vehicle manufacturer or factory branch, who has attempted to induce or coerce, or has induced or coerced, any motor vehicle dealer to enter into any agreement with the manufacturer, factory branch or representative of the motor vehicle manufacturer or factory branch, or to do any other act unfair to the dealer, by threatening to cancel any franchise existing between the manufacturer, factory branch or representative of the motor vehicle manufacturer or factory branch and the dealer. 218.0116(1)(i)1.a.a. “Due regard to the equities” means treatment in enforcing an agreement that is fair and equitable to a motor vehicle dealer or distributor and that is not discriminatory compared to similarly situated dealers or distributors. 218.0116(1)(i)1.b.b. “Just provocation” means a material breach by a motor vehicle dealer or distributor, due to matters within the dealer’s or distributor’s control, of a reasonable and necessary provision of an agreement and the breach is not cured within a reasonable time after written notice of the breach has been received from the manufacturer, importer or distributor. 218.0116(1)(i)2.2. Subject to s. 218.0132, being a manufacturer, importer or distributor who has unfairly, without due regard to the equities or without just provocation, directly or indirectly canceled or failed to renew the franchise of any motor vehicle dealer; or being a manufacturer or importer, who has unfairly, without due regard to the equities or without just provocation, directly or indirectly canceled or failed to renew the franchise of any distributor. If there is a change in a manufacturer, importer or distributor, a motor vehicle dealer’s franchise granted by the former manufacturer, importer or distributor shall continue in full force and operation under the new manufacturer, importer or distributor unless a mutual agreement of cancellation is filed with the department of transportation between the new manufacturer, importer or distributor and the dealer. 218.0116(1)(im)1.a.a. With respect to an order or contract of purchase, the practice of increasing the selling price of a motor vehicle above that originally quoted the purchaser as evidenced by a purchase order or contract which has been signed by both the purchaser and dealer licensee. 218.0116(1)(im)1.b.b. With respect to a consumer lease or prelease agreement, the practice of increasing the gross capitalized cost above that originally quoted the lessee or prospective lessee as evidenced by a consumer lease or prelease agreement which has been signed by both the lessee or prospective lessee and the dealer licensee. 218.0116(1)(im)2.2. Having accepted an order or contract of purchase from a buyer or a consumer lease or prelease agreement from a lessee or prospective lessee if the arrangement results in the practice of bushing. 218.0116(1)(j)(j) Having advertised, printed, displayed, published, distributed, broadcast or televised or caused or permitted to be advertised, printed, displayed, published, distributed, broadcast or televised in any manner whatsoever, any statement or representation with regard to the sale, lease or financing of motor vehicles which is false, deceptive or misleading. 218.0116(1)(jm)(jm) Having set up, promoted or aided in the promotion of a plan by which motor vehicles are sold or leased to a person for a consideration and upon the further consideration that the purchaser or lessee agrees to secure one or more persons to participate in the plan by respectively making a similar purchase or lease and in turn agreeing to secure one or more persons likewise to join in the plan, each purchaser or lessee being given the right to secure money, credits, goods or something of value, depending upon the number of persons joining in the plan. 218.0116(1)(k)(k) Being a dealer who keeps open the dealer’s place of business on Sunday for the purpose of buying, leasing or selling motor vehicles; but nothing in this paragraph shall apply to any person who conscientiously believes that the 7th day of the week, from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday, should be observed as the Sabbath and who actually refrains from conducting or engaging in the business of buying, leasing, selling or offering for lease or sale motor vehicles, or performing other secular business on that day. 218.0116(1)(L)(L) Being a motor vehicle dealer who, in breach of an agreement, voluntarily changes its ownership or executive management, transfers its dealership assets to another person, adds another franchise at the same location as its existing franchise, or relocates a franchise without first complying with the procedures in s. 218.0134. 218.0116(1)(Lm)(Lm) Being a manufacturer, importer or distributor who fails to comply with the procedures in s. 218.0134 regarding a dealer’s request for approval of a change of ownership or executive management, transfer of its dealership assets to another person, adding another franchise at the same location as its existing franchise, or relocation of a franchise or who fails to comply with an order of the division of hearings and appeals issued under s. 218.0134. 218.0116(1)(mm)(mm) Being a manufacturer, factory branch, distributor, field representative, officer, agent or any representative of a manufacturer, factory branch or distributor who, notwithstanding the terms of any agreement, refuses to honor the succession to the ownership or operation of a dealership under an existing franchise agreement by a designated family member of a deceased or incapacitated dealer, except in the manner prescribed by s. 218.0131, or who unreasonably withholds its approval of a change of ownership or executive management of the dealership after the dealer’s death or incapacity. 218.0116(1)(n)(n) The selling of new motor vehicles for which the dealer is not franchised. 218.0116(1)(nm)(nm) Willful failure to provide and maintain facilities and business records as required by ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163 or by any rule promulgated by the licensor pertaining to facility and business records. 218.0116(1)(o)(o) Being an inactive business, as evidenced by 3 or less motor vehicle purchases and sales or consumer leases during the prior year licensing period. 218.0116(1)(om)(om) Failure to obtain proper business zoning or failure to obtain and maintain any required additional state or local license or permit. 218.0116(1)(pm)(pm) Being a manufacturer, factory branch or distributor who enters into a franchise agreement establishing or relocating a motor vehicle dealership, parts outlet or service outlet in a relevant market area without first complying with the procedure in sub. (7) (a). 218.0116(1)(q)(q) Being a manufacturer, factory branch or distributor who engages in any action which transfers to a motor vehicle dealer any responsibility of the manufacturer, factory branch or distributor under s. 218.0171. 218.0116(1)(qm)(qm) Being a manufacturer, distributor or importer who does any of the following: 218.0116(1)(qm)2.2. Fails to revise or remove portions of an agreement that the department of transportation declares to contain provisions which are inconsistent with s. 218.0114 (9). 218.0116(1)(qm)3.3. Requires or coerces a dealer or distributor to sign an agreement, as a condition of obtaining or continuing a franchise, that contains provisions that are void or prohibited under s. 218.0114 (9) or attempts to enforce an agreement with void or prohibited provisions. 218.0116(1)(qm)4.4. Requires or coerces a dealer or distributor to sign an agreement that requires arbitration as a condition of obtaining or continuing a franchise, unless the dealer or distributor has the option of signing an otherwise identical agreement without the arbitration provision or unless the agreement provides for arbitration on a case-by-case basis and only when both parties elect to refer the matter to arbitration. This subdivision does not apply to a manufacturer or distributor who enters into an agreement that creates a new franchise for a new line make of motor vehicle, if each of the following is applicable: 218.0116(1)(qm)4.a.a. The arbitration provision was the subject of good faith negotiations with a representative group of dealers. 218.0116(1)(qm)4.b.b. Each dealer voluntarily accepts the arbitration provision after receiving a franchise offering circular under s. 553.27 (4) that discloses the existence and effect of the arbitration provision. 218.0116(1)(qm)4.c.c. The manufacturer or dealer files a copy of the franchise offering circular and proof of good faith negotiation and voluntary acceptance of the arbitration with any filing required under s. 218.0114 (7) (a). 218.0116(1)(r)(r) Being a manufacturer, distributor or importer who fails to designate in writing the area of sales responsibility assigned to a motor vehicle dealer or who changes or attempts to change an area of sales responsibility to avoid the requirements of sub. (7). 218.0116(1)(rm)(rm) Being a grantor, as defined in s. 218.0133 (1) (b), except a motorcycle grantor, as defined in s. 218.0133 (1) (c), who fails to pay a motor vehicle dealer franchise termination benefits under s. 218.0133 or being a motorcycle grantor who fails to pay a motor vehicle dealer agreement termination benefits under s. 218.0133. 218.0116(1)(s)(s) Being a manufacturer or distributor who modifies a motor vehicle dealer agreement during the term of the agreement or upon its renewal without complying with sub. (8). 218.0116(1)(t)(t) Being a manufacturer, importer or distributor who compels a dealer, through a financing subsidiary of the manufacturer, importer or distributor, to agree to unreasonable operating requirements or who directly or indirectly cancels or fails to renew a dealer’s franchise, except as allowed under par. (i) and s. 218.0132, through the actions of a financing subsidiary of the manufacturer, importer or distributor. This paragraph does not limit the right of a financing subsidiary to engage in business practices in accordance with the usages of the trade in which it is engaged. 218.0116(1)(tm)(tm) Being a licensee who willfully refuses or fails to participate in mediation pursuant to a demand for mediation served under s. 218.0136 (1). 218.0116(1)(u)(u) Being a manufacturer, importer or distributor who uses a right of first refusal, granted to it under an agreement, to influence the consideration or other terms offered by a potential buyer for a dealership’s assets or stock or to influence a potential buyer to refrain from entering into, or to withdraw from, negotiations for the purchase of a dealership’s assets or stock. 218.0116(1)(um)1.1. In this paragraph, “site control contract” means a contract that grants authority to a manufacturer, importer, or distributor or an affiliate of a manufacturer, importer, or distributor, during the term of an agreement or after the termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal of an agreement, to control the disposition or use of or to lease the dealer’s dealership facilities. 218.0116(1)(um)2.2. Being a manufacturer, importer, or distributor, except a manufacturer, importer, or distributor of motorcycles with respect to a dealer or prospective dealer of the manufacturer’s, importer’s, or distributor’s motorcycles, who conditions entry into an agreement or renewal of an agreement or approval of the addition of a line make of motor vehicles, franchise relocation, ownership or management change, or transfer of dealership assets on the entry by the dealer or prospective dealer into a site control contract or who coerces or attempts to coerce a dealer or prospective dealer to enter into a site control contract. This subdivision does not prohibit a site control contract for which the dealer or prospective dealer receives a separate and valuable consideration. This subdivision does not apply to a site control contract that is in existence on December 21, 2011, unless the contract is amended, modified, changed, or renewed after December 21, 2011. 218.0116(1)(v)(v) Being a manufacturer, importer, or distributor who fails or refuses to offer for sale to its same line make franchised dealers all models manufactured or distributed for the line make. The offer for sale may be subject to the manufacturer’s, importer’s, or distributor’s plan or system for the allocation, scheduling, and delivery of such models that complies with the requirements of s. 218.0123. However, the failure to deliver any such motor vehicle shall not be considered a violation of this paragraph if the failure is due to a lack of manufacturing capacity, a strike or labor difficulty, a shortage of materials, a freight embargo, or other cause beyond the control of the manufacture, importer, or distributor. This paragraph does not prohibit reasonable requirements being imposed on dealers for the sale, marketing, or servicing of particular models. 218.0116(1)(vm)(vm) Unless the technology of a motor vehicle reasonably requires improvement of dealership facilities to accommodate the adequate sale and service of the motor vehicle or the reasonable business considerations of the manufacturer and dealer justify improvement of dealership facilities, being a manufacturer, importer, or distributor, except a manufacturer, importer, or distributor of motorcycles with respect to a dealer or prospective dealer of the manufacturer’s, importer’s, or distributor’s motorcycles, who conditions entry into an agreement or renewal of an agreement or approval of the addition of a line make of motor vehicles, franchise relocation, ownership or management change, or transfer of dealership assets on the improvement of dealership facilities at a substantial cost to the dealer or prospective dealer or who coerces or attempts to coerce a dealer or prospective dealer to improve dealership facilities at a substantial cost to the dealer or prospective dealer. This paragraph does not prohibit improvement of dealership facilities at a substantial cost to the dealer or prospective dealer if the dealer or prospective dealer has agreed to undertake the improvement and received a separate and valuable consideration for the improvement. The burden of proof to demonstrate the technological necessity or business justification of the facilities improvement is on the manufacturer, importer, or distributor. This paragraph does not apply to an agreement to improve dealership facilities at a substantial cost to the dealer or prospective dealer that is in existence on December 21, 2011, unless the agreement is amended, modified, changed, or renewed after December 21, 2011. 218.0116(1)(w)1.1. Being a manufacturer, importer, or distributor who performs warranty service or delivery and preparation work on a motor vehicle that it does not own or who authorizes or permits a person to perform warranty service or delivery and preparation work on a motor vehicle unless the person is a motor vehicle dealer with whom the manufacturer, importer, or distributor has entered into a franchise agreement for the sale and service of the manufacturer’s, importer’s, or distributor’s motor vehicles. This subdivision shall not prohibit a manufacturer, importer, or distributor from: 218.0116(1)(w)1.a.a. Authorizing the performance of warranty service and delivery and preparation work by a fleet owner, as defined in sub. (7) (d) 4., on its own vehicles. 218.0116(1)(w)1.b.b. If warranty service is temporarily not reasonably available to one or more owners of the manufacturer’s, importer’s, or distributor’s vehicles, performing warranty service on such vehicles or authorizing the performance of warranty service on such vehicles by a person who is not a motor vehicle dealer with whom the manufacturer, importer, or distributor has entered into a franchise agreement for the sale and service of the manufacturer’s, importer’s, or distributor’s motor vehicles. Warranty service may be provided or authorized by a manufacturer, importer, or distributor under this subdivision only during the period that warranty service is not otherwise reasonably available. 218.0116(1)(w)1.c.c. Attempting to repair a nonconformity, as defined in s. 218.0171 (1) (f), to a vehicle, if the repair is reasonably necessary to prevent the manufacturer, importer, or distributor from becoming subject to the requirements of s. 218.0171 (2) (b). 218.0116(1)(w)2.2. Subdivision 1. does not require a manufacturer, importer, or distributor to perform warranty service, or to authorize or permit warranty service to be performed, under a warranty given by another manufacturer, importer, or distributor or component manufacturer to a retail customer. 218.0116(1)(wm)(wm) Being a manufacturer, importer, or distributor, except a manufacturer, importer, or distributor of motorcycles with respect to a dealer of the manufacturer’s, importer’s, or distributor’s motorcycles, who unreasonably requires or coerces or attempts to coerce a dealer to provide or maintain exclusive facilities for a particular line make of motor vehicles or unreasonably refuses to permit or approve the addition of another line make to the dealership facilities of a dealer taking into consideration the reasonable business considerations of the manufacturer, importer, or distributor and the dealer. The burden of proof to demonstrate the reasonableness of the provision or maintenance of exclusive facilities or the refusal to permit or approve the addition of another line make is on the manufacturer, importer, or distributor. This paragraph does not apply to an agreement for a dealer to provide or maintain exclusive facilities for a particular line make of motor vehicles and for which the dealer has received separate and valuable consideration that is in existence on December 21, 2011, unless the agreement is amended, modified, changed, or renewed after December 21, 2011. 218.0116(1)(x)(x) Being a manufacturer, importer, or distributor who engages in any action or fails to engage in any action with respect to any enfranchised motor vehicle dealer in a manner that is arbitrary and causes material damage to the dealer. 218.0116(1)(xm)(xm) Being a manufacturer, importer, or distributor, except a manufacturer, importer, or distributor of motorcycles with respect to a dealer of the manufacturer’s, importer’s, or distributor’s motorcycles, who charges back, withholds payment, denies vehicle allocation, or takes other adverse action against a dealer for charging a service fee to a retail customer in any amount that is not prohibited under ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163 or rules promulgated by the department of transportation under ss. 218.0101 to 218.0163. 218.0116(1)(y)(y) Being a manufacturer, importer, or distributor, except a manufacturer, importer, or distributor of motorcycles with respect to a dealer of the manufacturer’s, importer’s, or distributor’s motorcycles, who charges back, withholds payment, denies vehicle allocation, or takes other adverse action against a dealer because a motor vehicle sold by the dealer has been exported to a foreign country unless the dealer knew or reasonably should have known that the purchaser intended to export the vehicle or resell the vehicle for export. If the motor vehicle is titled or registered in any state in this country, it is presumed that the dealer had no knowledge that the purchaser intended to export the vehicle or resell the vehicle for export. The manufacturer, importer, or distributor may rebut the presumption. The burden of proof to demonstrate that the dealer knew or reasonably should have known that the purchaser intended to export the vehicle or resell the vehicle for export is on the manufacturer, importer, or distributor. 218.0116(1)(ym)(ym) Being a manufacturer, importer, or distributor, except a manufacturer, importer, or distributor of motorcycles with respect to a dealer of the manufacturer’s, importer’s, or distributor’s motorcycles, who requires or coerces, or attempts to require or coerce, a dealer to provide the manufacturer, importer, or distributor with information regarding the retail customers of the dealer unless the information is necessary for the sale and delivery of a new motor vehicle to a retail buyer, to validate and pay customer or dealer incentives, for warranty reimbursement substantiation under s. 218.0125, or to enable the manufacturer, importer, or distributor to fulfill safety, recall, or other legal obligations. 218.0116(1)(ys)(ys) Being a manufacturer, importer, or distributor, except a manufacturer, importer, or distributor of motorcycles with respect to a dealer of the manufacturer’s, importer’s, or distributor’s motorcycles, who transfers nonpublic customer information that was obtained from a dealer to another franchised dealer while the dealer from which the information was obtained remains a franchised dealer unless the dealer from which the information was obtained agrees to the transfer, or who uses any nonpublic personal information, as defined in 16 CFR 313.3 (n), obtained from a dealer unless the use falls within an exception under 16 CFR 313.14 or 313.15. 218.0116(1)(z)1.1. In this paragraph, “adverse action” includes all of the following:
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Chs. 178-226, Partnerships and Corporations; Transportation; Utilities; Banks; Savings Associations
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