The NADA Show was finally back in 2022 and, as always, WANADA dealers were proudly represented. Held from March 10-13 in Las Vegas, the annual dealer convention reconvened in person after the pandemic had forced the event virtual in 2021. The 2022 show featured such celebrities as Michael Strahan and Dana Perino, 25 franchise meetings representing every major manufacturer, an emphasis on the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) and, of course, lots of great parties.
For WANADA’s part, the formerly “tri-association” reception brought together four dealer groups for the first time, as the Kentucky Auto Dealers Association will join WANADA, MADA and VADA at Alexxa’s inside the Paris Hotel. The event was as well-attended as ever and WANADA would like to thank the event’s generous sponsors: ACV Auctions, Armatus Dealer Uplift, Cox Automotive, DealerTrack, Doyle Construction, HHM, Naked Lime, Penney Design Group, Sherwin Williams, Reynolds & Reynolds, Rifkin Weiner Livingston LLC, TrueCar, Truist, and Zurich.
In addition to the quad-association reception, WANADA was proud to see Geoff Pohanka of Pohanka Automotive Group be officially installed as NADA’s Vice Chairman. Following in the footsteps of his father Jack, Geoff will be the second WANADA dealer to serve as Chairman of NADA when he assumes that mantle at the 2023 show.
WANADA also nominated two of its esteemed members for the NADA Show’s major awards. Jim Gramm of the Safford Automotive Group was nominated for the 2022 TIME Dealer of the Year award, one of the automobile industry’s most prestigious and highly coveted honors. Recipients are among the nation’s most successful auto dealers who also demonstrate a long-standing commitment to community service. John Altman of the Beyer Automotive Group was nominated for the Northwood Dealer Education Award. Northwood annually recognizes exceptional owners and dealer principals in the automotive industry who have made noteworthy contributions to education and to their communities.
Beyond displays of EVs at the event, NADA also launched a new program, in collaboration with the Center for Sustainable Energy and Plug In America, that’s designed to enhance EV education at franchised dealerships nationwide. Officials explained the dealership EV training program developed through this partnership is supported by the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which will engage all vehicle manufacturers to further dealership participation across the U.S. While automakers continue to bring more EVs to market, NADA acknowledged that providing future EV buyers with the information and expertise to get them comfortable and confident with their first EV purchase is far more crucial to mass-market adoption and fleet turnover than just product alone.
All in all, it seemed that the attendees of the 2022 NADA Show were thrilled to be “back to normal” with the in-person event and already looking forward to next year’s show in Dallas.
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