Time to Raise the Bar, says Myers Industry Relations, Capitol Hill Clout, Dealer Image Top Agenda

Time to Raise the Bar, says Myers Industry Relations, Capitol Hill Clout, Dealer Image Top Agenda

In his remarks at the National Automobile Dealers Associationês (NADA) 85th Annual Convention & Exposition, NADA 2002 Chairman H. Carter Myers, III said the association will aggressively pursue opportunities to improve dealer/manufacturer relations and raise its visibility before the media, consumers and legislators.

Automakers are currently in the mood to rebuild bridges with their dealers, Myers told dealers, but the past has a way of repeating itself every few years, so NADA must remain vigilant. And dealers and automakers still have plenty of unfinished business to iron out, including dealer-reduction strategies, dealership facility requirements, and discriminatory pricing programs.

Myers pledged to build on the progress of last year to further improve dealer/manufacturer relations and open new doors for meaningful dialogue. Our job is not finished until the franchised dealer is truly valued by the manufacturer and there is a clear recognition of the dealer as an added-value retailer. But we are not there yet. There are issues on the table today If a proposed program is bad for dealers or the franchise system, we are going to get involved and stay involved until it is resolved, he said.

Myers said the franchise system has grown stronger by meeting the many challenges it has faced, and will continue to thrive in the future. Today, our franchise system is time-tested, battle-hardened and proven, and I think we can all agree manufacturer and dealer alike it is still the best automotive distribution system in the world, he said.

Myers called on dealers to raise their voices on Capitol Hill and in state legislatures across the country. Too often, we are lumped in with manufacturers. Itês time to move out and be seen as a separate force We have the opportunity to raise the bar and enhance our effectiveness in Washington. He said the mandatory binding arbitration bill must be passed as well as help for Oldsmobile dealers. Changes to CAFE law can fall on the backs of dealers, he warned.

Myers also cited public perception as a key ingredient in NADA’s progress on many fronts, and vowed to improve the dealer image. We can move forward to tell the story of the good things that thousands of dealers do every day in their showrooms and in their communities Improving our image has many paybacks for our industry, but none is more important than our ability to recruit capable salespeople, technicians and other dealership staff.

Myers called on his peers to do their part by treating customers better in their showrooms. There is no community service, no media report or ad that could do more to spread the good image of the automobile dealer than positive sales experiences, he added.

The full text of Myersê speech can be found online at www.nada.org.