Pub. 2 2021-2022 Issue 3

Communication within your dealership can make a world of difference for your customers, your employees, and your staff. Even if you believe your dealership
is great at communicating inside and
out, improvement is always possible.

Even though it has been over two years since the pandemic shutdown of March 2020, the divide between pre-pandemic
life and post-pandemic life has not
closed. The future has very few certainties, but that doesn’t prevent
you from making educated guesses.
There are specific areas that could
affect the future of your dealership.
Those areas are the ones where you should focus your decisions. Here are a few general subjects you should consider to get you started, but everyone’s situation is different.
There might be others you should add, too.

The auto industry is starting to undergo a massive switchover from ICE autos to EV autos, and there’s no shortage of people to tell you EVs are going to have a big impact on the industry. What’s
less clear is how that implementation will occur. Many people expect direct retail from manufacturers to expand, but fewer people ask what customers want
and like.

On Jan. 5, 2022, The Washington Post published an op-ed article by Liam Denning entitled “Car Dealership Laws Aren’t Fit for the Electric Age.” On Jan. 13, 2022, NADA’s president and CEO, Mike Stanton, responded. The following sections contain a summary of the op-ed and Mike Stanton’s response.

Jason Kirkland has been in the retail automotive industry for 30 years, and he has worked at Jenkins Honda of Leesburg for 26 of those years. Jason has been a general manager there for seven years and currently serves as a director on the CFADA board.

Raj Alexander is an active new member of CFADA, and he is also the managing partner at two dealerships, Porsche South Orlando and Central Florida Lincoln.

Our officers and directors play a critical role in our success. The board consists of a diverse group of highly trained professionals. Each person on our leadership team brings many years of experience in the U.S. and worldwide. Their dedication ensures that Central Florida’s new and veteran automotive professionals have access to the region’s most comprehensive industry resources and educational opportunities.

Thank you for all that you do for our
communities and your customers. I hope you enjoy this issue as much as I did. I enjoyed reading each dealer’s unique and serendipitous journey.