(1) If a licensed motor vehicle dealer under franchise by a manufacturer dies or becomes incapacitated, the manufacturer shall act in good faith to allow a successor, which may include a family member, designated by the deceased or incapacitated motor vehicle dealer to succeed to ownership and operation of the dealer under the existing franchise agreement if: (a) Within ninety days after the motor vehicle dealer's death or incapacity, the designated successor gives the manufacturer written notice of an intent to succeed to the rights of the deceased or incapacitated motor vehicle dealer in the franchise agreement; (b) The designated successor agrees to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of the existing franchise agreement; and (c) The designated successor meets the criteria generally applied by the manufacturer in qualifying motor vehicle dealers. (2) A manufacturer may refuse to honor the existing franchise agreement with the designated successor only for good cause. The manufacturer may request in writing from a designated successor the personal and financial data that is reasonably necessary to determine whether the existing franchise agreement should be honored, and the designated successor shall supply the data promptly upon request. (3) (a) If a manufacturer believes that good cause exists for refusing to honor the requested succession, the manufacturer shall send the designated successor, by certified or overnight mail, notice of its refusal to approve the succession within sixty days after the later of: (I) Receipt of the notice of the designated successor's intent to succeed the motor vehicle dealer in the ownership and operation of the dealer; or (II) The receipt of the requested personal and financial data. (b) Failure to serve the notice pursuant to subsection (3)(a) of this section shall be considered approval of the designated successor, and the franchise agreement is considered amended to reflect the approval of the succession the day following the last day of the notice period specified in subsection (3)(a) of this section. (c) If the manufacturer gives notice of refusal to approve the succession, the notice shall state the specific grounds for the refusal and shall state that the franchise agreement shall be discontinued not less than ninety days after the date the notice of refusal is served unless the proposed successor files an action in the district court to enjoin the action. (4) This section shall not be construed to prohibit a motor vehicle dealer from designating a person as the successor in advance, by written instrument filed with the manufacturer. If the motor vehicle dealer files such an instrument, that instrument governs the succession rights to the management and operation of the dealer subject to the designated successor satisfying the manufacturer's qualification requirements as described in this section. (5) This section shall not apply to manufacturers of vehicles with a passenger capacity of thirty-two or more.
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