NADA LAUNCHES NEW NATIONWIDE EFFORT TO PROMOTE THE CONSUMER AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS OF LOCAL DEALERSHIPS

TYSONS, Va. (Jan. 30, 2017) - Today, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) launched a new initiative designed to promote the benefits of local new car and truck dealerships for consumers, local communities and manufacturers alike.

The new MyDealership.org initiative includes a website and social media channels and features videos of real consumers and dealership staff voicing the benefits of local dealerships in their own words. Videos include:

• My Dealership Saves Me Money: Econometric research has shown that when same brand dealerships compete in proximity to each other, consumers save hundreds of dollars on the price of a new vehicle.
• My Dealership Creates Jobs: Local dealerships provide nearly 1.1 million jobs in sales, service and management average more than $69,000 in compensation per year across occupations - in fact, dealerships employ more workers than auto manufacturers operating in America.
• My Dealership is Local: Approximately half of America's 16,500 dealerships are companies that own two stores or less. Thousands of dealership groups are locally owned and operated businesses rooted in their communities.
• My Dealership is Modern: Local dealerships offer a modern service and sales experience, with online tools and digital platforms dedicated to making the purchasing experience as easy and convenient as possible.
• My Dealership is Diverse: Local dealerships reflect the communities they serve, and can be incredibly diverse workplaces, employing workers from all background in sales, service and management occupations, and with opportunities for advancement.

“Local dealerships benefit consumers and local communities alike - through price competition that drives down prices, and good paying jobs that drive local economies,” said NADA chairman Mark Scarpelli, who operates four dealerships near Chicago, Illinois. “But MyDealership.org doesn't come from the perspective of dealers - it comes from the perspective of real consumers, dealership staff and community leaders who have seen the benefits of local dealerships first hand.”

The initiative is being taken up by state and local dealership associations across the country. Robert Glaser, who runs the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association and chairs Automotive Trade Association Executives (ATAE), plans to be the first state association to take up the initiative. “Local dealerships benefit consumers and local communities in North Carolina and across America,” said Glaser. “NCADA is taking up this initiative, and we encourage local dealerships and dealer associations to promote it as well.”

NADA will be promoting the initiative throughout 2017 across its digital media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. The initiative was launched as part of NADA's 100^th Anniversary.