NADA stands for the National Automobile Dealers Association, and the key word here is ???association.??? It means ???together.??? It means we all come together in a united front to face the challenges of our industry???and they continue to be many.
Last year, through much hard work at NADA, we avoided Armageddon for many in our industry.
Now we???re able to focus on other issues that face us in the months ahead: tackling UNICAP and LIFO; avoiding a patchwork of mileage standards under new CAFE requirements; watching Congress closely to avoid unnecessary and burdensome regulations (the new Consumer Financial Protection Act is a thorny example), and continuing to help dealers in a struggling marketplace. But perhaps the biggest challenge at the moment is the recall situation. Dealers across the country are working diligently to correct various recall problems so that vehicles are as safe as they can be. In this way, we???re helping both our customers and our automakers through a difficult situation.
But then, that???s always been our role:
When interest rates were as high as 21%, what did we do? We sold cars and trucks.
When product quality some decades ago was bad, what did we do? We sold cars and trucks; and we fixed them, too.
Even when major manufacturers went bankrupt, we continued to sell their product.
And when automakers and others tried to get rid of dealers, we fought them and won. Through every possible scenario, we dealers have remained the constant. That???s strength, that???s resiliency and that???s what America???s new-car and truck dealers are all about???the coming together of great hearts and minds in this industry to work for the betterment of all.
The payoff: customers may be loyal to a brand, but they???re far more loyal to you and me. We take care of them, and they trust us.
So take stock of who you are, be proud of what you and NADA do, and stand tall as we fight the challenges???and enjoy the successes???together.