Franchise agreements; obligations of manufacturer and its agent.

Any parent, subsidiary, or common entity of a manufacturer; distributor; importer; or other entity, which by contractual arrangement or otherwise pursuant to the direction of the manufacturer, engages in the distribution in this state of line-make motor vehicles manufactured or substantially manufactured by such manufacturer, shall be deemed to be the agent of the manufacturer for the purposes of any franchise agreement entered into between such agent and a motor vehicle dealer engaged in business in this state and shall be bound by the terms and provisions of such franchise agreement as if it were the principal. A manufacturer of line-make motor vehicles which are offered for sale or lease in this state under any franchise agreement executed by an agent of such manufacturer is bound by the terms and provisions of such franchise agreement as if it and not the agent had executed the franchise agreement and, notwithstanding whether it is licensed pursuant to s. 320.61, said manufacturer shall be subject to all of the restrictions, limitations, remedies, and penalties of ss. 320.60-320.70 related to such franchise agreement, the performance thereof, or any cause of action pertaining thereto. The agency relationship established in this section is not intended to apply to a person or entity that engages in the distribution of motor vehicles in this state under its own brand name which are substantially manufactured by another person or entity, provided the distributing person or entity is substantially engaged in the manufacture of other line-make motor vehicles and is licensed in this state as a manufacturer.