Featured Why most car dealers still don’t have any electric vehicles

Direct car sales haven't been banned there. Dealers in the US got that done under the claim direct factory sales were unfair competition. Tesla got around the laws in some states, because they never had franchise dealers to start. Brands in Europe are moving to direct sales.
OEMs shuffle dealer network in Europe to make way for direct sales
BMW Will Soon Shift To Direct Sales Throughout Europe | Carscoops

The real difference between the buying experience likely has to do with culture. Europe is more consumer friendly, while US markets favor the producers and sellers. Europe didn't have cell phones locked to the service provider; you didn't have to go with AT&T to get an iPhone. It was you pick the phone you want, and then get a SIM card for the provider you wanted there.

Colorado has a flat income tax rate of 4.4%, and a state sales tax of 2.9% with 4% to 5% for local sales tax. The tax on the car's value isn't about guiding consumer choices. It is simply another source of revenue for the general fund. While the hybrid and EV tends to have a higher MSRP, it is always the case. Plus, a person choosing not to buy one can easily pick a more expensive ICE

Germany chooses to tie registration fees to CO2 emissions, though it is still higher than Colorado's straight registration. Not digging into their local tax rates, but the federal is a progressive rate higher than the US. Their VAT is 19%, and the tariff on a Prius PHV is around 10%. Instead of paying a gradually decreasing yearly tax, people pay a larger lump to get the car. Then there is the fuel tax.

I'd prefer a per mile tax for all cars, but the $50 is reasonable. Compared to something like a Prius, it is less than the state gas tax a person driving the average miles a year would pay. The lawmakers might have considered the fact a plug in is paying taxes of electricity, and generally higher vehicle property tax.

States need funds to provide services for their citizens. There is just different ways to go about it.

As you point out, Colorado has chosen to incentivize EVs in a different way. Some US states are more generous than others, and some less so. Considering the supply and demand, I don't think we really need these incentives. NJ may have suspended some of their programs because of the situation. Making charging easier on trips and at homes might be a better use of the funds.

I am not going to try defending the US dealer model and car market. For a capitalist country, we seem to have a sucky selection for most things.

 

Too many buyers of early Nissan Leaf found their EV product to be total junk ..... so much so - owners formed a class action lawsuit for its serious shortcomings that didn't match up with their advertised claims & expectations. Lots of burned owners putting out the word - "don't trust 'em". Meeting minimum quality reputations are hard to earn & easy to lose.
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And the 1960 Corvair is why GM can never be trusted to build a car ever again.