Industry, Government, Auto Show Issues Top Agenda at Annual Dealer Association Meeting
Dealer association chief executives from across the country, including WANADA, came together last week to discuss the national dealer agenda and compare notes on programs of mutual interest and assistance at the Annual Summer Conference of the Automotive Trade Association Executives (ATAE) in Brewster, Massachusetts. ATAEs heard from senior NADA staff and prominent government and industry authorities. Highlights of the meeting included:
àThe General Session featured presentations by Gary Dilts, senior vice president of sales for DaimlerChrysler, who spoke about retail strategies; and NHTSA Administrator Dr. Jeffrey Runge, who emphasized the importance of his agencyês
partnership with NADA for increased seat belt and child seat use.
àThe Executive Business Session featured reports from the ATAE Committees and NADA leadership, who discussed top legislative, regulatory, industry relations and dealership operations issues. The session also included an update on AYES by its new president Larry Cummings. Dealership legal expert Jerry Coker discussed a range of legal issues that dealers are currently facing, including workplace violence, internet use policies, and cell phone liability policies.
àAn all-day meeting of the Auto Shows of North America featured very informative, candid roundtable discussions with auto show producers, and automakers and a presentation by Peter Brown, associate publisher of Automotive News.
àA panel discussion with the Alliance of Automobile Manufactures and NADA lawyers explored ways dealer associations and automakers can work together to address a large number of federal and state issues. When they do, it was noted, they are very successful.
àThe newly formed American Financial Services Association, made up of top auto finance companies, held a panel discussion of hot topics in automotive finance.
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