ATAE Summer Meeting Spotlights National Issues, Auto Shows
[I]Dealer Assns. Convene at Annual Summer Meeting To Focus on National and Auto Industry Issues[/I]In a year of change and turmoil, representatives from state and metropolitan auto dealer associations from the U.S. and Canada, including WANADA, gathered last week in San Diego, CA for the Annual Summer Conference of the Automotive Trade Association Executives (ATAE). Dealer associates representatives got updates on critical national issues and exchanged pragmatic ideas and initiatives.
Keynoting one of the general sessions was Mike Jackson, chairman of AutoNation and former WANADA member, who offered insightful strategies for todays challenging auto sales, in the context of high gas prices and the need for a workable energy policy.
Dealer associations also heard from a distinguished industry panel on the global warming debate, consisting of Matt Godlewski, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Andy Koblenz, NADA and David Regan of NADA.
Executive sessions featured overview reports from NADA Vice Chairman John McEleney and NADA senior staff on public affairs, legal, legislative and regulatory priority issues, a number of which tracked the topics agenda presented to WANADA members at the associations ”State of the Union” meeting in June. The sessions also included reports from the Dealer Election Action Committee and Automotive Retailing Today regarding dealer image in the media. Dealership career programming was also a major focus.
An additional highlight of the conference was a valuable meeting of the Auto Shows of North America (ASNA), an adjunct group formed under the auspices of ATAE. The session brought together auto show producer representatives from the industry circuit, including WANADA which produces The Washington Auto Show, with automaker exhibitors and exposition contractors to discuss the latest developments in show programming and vehicle design trends.
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