National Automobile Dealers Association

McLEAN, Va., April 24 – When looking at the return-on-investment of factory-mandated dealership renovations programs, a “first-of-its-kind” study commissioned by NADA indicates there’s no solid data that new-car dealers would sell one more vehicle by investing $1 million in the dealership.

“That was the bottom line of the study,” said NADA Chairman Bill Underriner, in a recent interview on AutoFocus with David Hyatt, a public affairs talk show recorded in Studio One at NADA headquarters in McLean, Va. “We commissioned that [study] last year with Glenn Mercer, a former partner with McKinsey and Company. He’s a consultant who really knows his way around the auto industry. This was an objective, fact-based study.” (Read more and watch the video)

'Factory Image Programs' Study Released at NADA/ATD Convention

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 4 – While new-car dealers see value in having clean and modern facilities, many have questions and, in a significant number of cases, are not convinced that the factory upgrades they are being asked to do will result in an increased return on investment, according to a new study by Glenn Mercer issued at a press briefing during the 2012 NADA Convention and Expo in Las Vegas.

• Read the full story
• Download the study
• Download the Executive Summary

Don Chalmers

Study: Proposed Fuel Economy Rules Cut 7 Million Car Buyers Out of New-Vehicle Market

NADA: New-vehicle dealers support fuel economy increases if affordable for consumers

WASHINGTON, April 12 – NADA has released a study indicating that higher vehicle prices resulting from proposed fuel economy rules will cut millions of potential new-car buyers out of the market in 2025.

“To work, fuel economy improvements must be affordable,” said Don Chalmers, president of Don Chalmers Ford in Rio Rancho, N.M., at a press briefing today. “While you can mandate what automakers must build, you can’t dictate what customers will buy, nor can you dictate if a bank will make a loan.”

“If my customers can’t buy what I’ve got to sell, there are no savings at the gas pump and there is no environmental benefit,” added Chalmers, chairman of NADA’s Government Affairs Committee. “If car and truck buyers do not purchase these new products, we all lose.” (Read more)