Year in Review, from NADA Chairman Jeff Carlson

Year in Review, from NADA Chairman Jeff Carlson

By Jeff Carlson, NADA Chairman

As the last month of 2016 is well under way, its important to pause and appreciate what weve accomplished over the past year. The National Automobile Dealers Association would like to thank its amazing dealer network over 16,500 strong for the hard work and passion that helped us earn a record-breaking year.

2016 has been an excellent year for the auto industry, as we end with about 17.5 million new-car sales. In the regulatory and legislative arenas, NADA continued to hold its defensive line with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureaus intrusion into our business. We worked hard to gain traction for the critical Senate Bill 2663, which aims to curb the CFPBs regulatory overreach.

We tackled many other regulatory agencies whose policies can significantly hurt dealer business. We quantified and communicated the potentially negative economic impact on consumer affordability. The policies include CAFE rules, recall mandates, manufacturer direct sales and many others. NADAs messages were effectively circulated and re-circulated through the year in major news outlets including the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and the New York Times, just to name a few.

I have had the honor of reminding the general public that dealers are the solution, not the problem. We are agents of change, and Ive had the great opportunity to meet many of you and speak at your dealer association meetings.

Internally, NADA has never been stronger. Our re-branding is complete and with NADA President Peter Welch at the helm, this association has never been leaner, more focused and more ready to take our members through the challenges of this new century.

Letês celebrate NADAs century milestone together at the 100th Convention & Expo in New Orleans in January. Allow me the opportunity to thank you in person while handing the keys over to 2017 NADA Chairman Mark Scarpelli.

Finally, I want to thank each of you for an excellent year as your NADA chairman. I have met so many passionate and hardworking dealers throughout the United States and abroad in four different countries. Each time, Iêm amazed at the kinship we have and the spirit we share. We are all resilient and energetic, with high tolerance for risk and boundless entrepreneurial skills.

U.S. dealers have the best advantage with our incredible business model called the franchise system. It is a valuable asset for dealers and the envy of the world. For 100 years, weêve served the driving public better than anyone else through this system, and I know it will take us through the next 100.

On behalf of NADA, I wish you a very happy holiday season and a boundless and prosperous New Year!