The last few years have led to an evolution towards a more cooperative working relationship between dealers and OEMs, according to leaders from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation (Auto Alliance) and NADA.

Auto Alliance president and CEO John Bozzella joined NADA 2022 Chairman Mike Alford and NADA president and CEO Mike Stanton for a panel discussion on policy and innovation at the New York Auto Forum. The panel was moderated by NADA’s Jonathan Collegio.

“The opportunity here is for manufacturers and dealers is to work together to bring the customer along on this transformative journey,” Bozzella said about the efforts to meet the Biden Administration and the OEM’s electrification goals.

Both dealers and OEMs are fighting off many of the same regulations, policies and retail disruptors. “We react with customers every day, they know us, they trust us and that component is essential to scaling EVs to the public,” added Alford. “Our relationship with customers is our competitive advantage to these disruptors.”

NADA will continue to play a role in making sure it advocates for dealers, both in front of policymakers and with manufacturers, Stanton said. Dealerships are making hundreds of thousands of dollars in investment in EV infrastructure, training and equipment, he noted. “The investment is significant, which is what we mean when we say ‘all in’. Dealers are essential to making sure these vehicles are delivered to the mass market,” and that manufacturers can meet their aggressive electrification targets. “We’re in this together,” he said.

The 12th annual New York Auto Forum, hosted by the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), J.D. Power and the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) on April 12 at the Javits Center.