'06 NADA CHAIRMAN ON THE BIG THREE: TAKE THE LONG VIEW

Incoming chairman Bradshaw: Emphasizing career week and permanent estate tax repeal

February 13, 2006—Incoming NADA chairman William Bradshaw told convention attendees Monday that recently announced automaker restructuring plans—combined with intros of desirable new products—are encouraging signs that “they plan to be here for the long haul.” History has shown that automakers thought to be in a downward spiral can turn themselves around, and that seemingly infallible companies can stumble. “So it’s best we take the long view,” said Bradshaw, and not count out the Big Three.

Even so, Bradshaw added, dealers wonder: “How long will it take for the new marketing direction and new products to catch on? Will the cost be transferred down to the dealers? What does our future look like?”

Bradshaw said he will take the message to manufacturers that “all dealers are essential to the future success of the auto industry” and that “any right-sizing should only be driven by market forces.”

NADA will also push lawmakers on Capitol Hill for a law to eliminate title washing and will urge insurance companies to release “total-loss” info on both wrecked and flood vehicles. “Consumers and dealers must have this information and title history before they make a purchase,” Bradshaw said. Also on the legislative front: permanent repeal of the estate tax, which got temporarily sidetracked last year by Katrina.

Bradshaw encouraged dealers to help get out the word that there are plenty of good jobs at dealerships—more than 100,000, says a recent Harris survey sponsored by Automotive Retailing Today. He’ll press to double the number of dealerships that open their doors to high school students and educators during national Automotive Career Week next October.

The new chairman told dealers to always answer NADA's dealer attitude survey, which will help boost its credibility with automakers. And he praised California dealers, who through their state association worked with consumer groups last year to reach an acceptable compromise on a proposed “car buyer’s bill of rights. Thanks to their hard work, revised legislation passed and California dealers were spared the heavy hand of overlegislation,” Bradshaw said. “Those dealers made a real difference.”

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