Associations consist of people or businesses that share common problems, needs and goals. They work together to find solutions, meet those needs and provide valuable resources to enhance members’ success. And the New Car Dealers Association® San Diego County (NCDA) is no different. Comprised of nearly 120 new car dealers located throughout San Diego County, our mission is to provide programs and services responsive to the needs of those dealer members.
Those of us who work directly for the NCDA are immersed in the daily implementation of member benefits, so it’s important for us to remember that periodically we may need to remind our members about the valuable resources available to them as NCDA members. To that end, the following article highlights the breadth of the valuable benefits available to dealers to help each dealer maximize utilization of those benefits.
Legal and Compliance Resources
NCDA members enjoy free legal and compliance resources from valued partners such as Fisher Phillips, Celly Services and Scali Rasmussen. The NCDA has established consultative relationships with these legal and compliance resources to provide timely assistance to dealers. NCDA dealer members can call any of these companies free of charge if their question can be answered over the phone during a single phone call. If more is involved, they will set up a business relationship with your dealership.
All three businesses also provide the NCDA with valuable guidance on an ongoing basis that we share with our members using our various communication channels, as well as at in-person and online seminars.
Meeting, Conference and Training Space
The NCDA headquarters in Mira Mesa offers over 20,000 square feet of state‑of-the-art meeting and training spaces. Multiple conference rooms equipped with the latest audio/visual presentation equipment can accommodate groups of 30+. The NCDA building also features two classroom-style rooms that can seat 80+, both with wired and wireless audio/visual equipment.
Dealers and dealer groups who are planning sales, management, training and/or advertising meetings are encouraged to utilize our facilities free of charge, representing significant financial savings compared to meeting at hotels or similar conference or training facilities.
Management/Dealer Training
The NCDA hosts a variety of important training seminars for dealers. Whether it’s learning about new laws, ensuring compliance with safety and environmental regulations, or finding new ways to improve employee relations, members learn from NCDA partners and industry experts.
California Sales Training Academy
The NCDA’s California Sales Training Academy (CSTA) has been graduating top-performing salespeople for more than 30 years. The CSTA’s ongoing marketing campaign draws new and eager talent to our industry by way of this unique training and job placement program.
The CSTA course is offered for free to students and promotes professionalism in the retail automotive business with an emphasis on product knowledge, ethical behavior and customer service. At the conclusion of the four-day course, CSTA graduates have the knowledge to present and sell a car professionally, create referral business and develop a prospect base.
Not only do CSTA dealer partners have the opportunity to hire new sales recruits enrolled in NCDA outreach, but they also have the possibility to send new hires to be trained on an ongoing basis.
San Diego International Auto Show
The San Diego International Auto Show® is owned and produced by the NCDA to the benefit of all members. Dealers, LMAs and manufacturers have this unique, once-a-year opportunity to showcase the latest and greatest that our industry has to offer, stimulating automobile sales throughout the county. Not only is the auto show the most effective marketing opportunity of the year for brands to engage tens of thousands of car buyers and influence purchase decisions, but net revenue from the show is also the primary funding source that enables the NCDA to provide all of the benefits enjoyed by its members. It’s Where the Cars are the Stars.®Automotive Technician Recruiting
The NCDA is actively involved in efforts to increase the number of high school and community college students who choose to pursue professional careers as automotive technicians at new car dealers. These efforts include cohosting Automotive Technology Career Days in cooperation with the CNCDA Foundation, participating in the local SDTECHS Collaborative (SDTechs.org) and gaining local support for the CNCDA Foundation’s Auto Tech Scholarship Program.
Legislative Representation
The NCDA continuously monitors local, state and national legislation and regulatory activities which may impact new car dealers and their operations. Regular visits are made to Sacramento to discuss pertinent issues with CNCDA staff and coordinate lobbying efforts with state and local lawmakers.
Each year, the NCDA coordinates dealer meetings in Sacramento in conjunction with Dealer Day. The NCDA also invites key legislators to meet with the board of directors to enhance relationships and communications. Face-to-face meetings with legislators are a powerful tool in representing dealers’ interests and viewpoints on pending legislation.
Recent legislative victories influenced by this collaborate effort include the passing of historic PAGA reforms and defeat of proposed legislation that would have limited the speed of vehicles in California to 10 mph over the speed limit.
Political Action Committee
The NCDA PAC assists legislative candidates who support businesses and understand the significant, positive impact dealers have on San Diego County’s economy. NCDA’s PAC also provides support for or against ballot measures that may impact dealership operations. In 2024, this included opposition to ballot measures to increase county and city sales taxes that add significant cost to new and used vehicle purchases.
Networking Events
The NCDA’s annual golf tournament is a once‑a‑year opportunity for dealer members to spend a day networking with their fellow colleagues, NCDA’s associate member partners and tournament sponsors. Held at the top-rated Maderas Golf Club, the NCDA golf tournament also incorporates our annual meeting and luncheon, where we announce results of our annual board of directors election, introduce our incoming board chairman and honor our outgoing chairman.
Sales and Economic Impact Reports
Each month, the NCDA distributes San Diego Auto Outlook, which provides dealer members with a comprehensive report on new vehicle registrations by brand, sales trends and projections throughout the county. Quarterly reports take a deeper dive into the data, providing insights about EV adoption, sales trends for pre-owned vehicles, breakdowns by zip code and more.
The annual Economic Impact Report highlights the significant positive monetary impact dealers have on San Diego’s economy, including employment, tax revenue, advertising spending, purchasing and other important statistics. Reports are distributed to local, state and federal elected officials as a reminder of the extraordinary contributions NCDA dealer members present to the region’s economic health.
Communication Tools
The NCDA keeps dealers informed through a variety of channels, including San Diego Dealer — the award-winning quarterly magazine — email dealer alerts and advisories, and targeted social media communication via Facebook and LinkedIn. Consumers can use the NCDA website to find a conveniently located dealer, by location or brand. The NCDA also publishes a membership directory annually to facilitate easy communication among dealers and associate members.
Retirement Program
Dealer members have access to high-quality 401(k) plans with group pricing based on the strength of the entire NADA Retirement Program administered by Empower Retirement.
About the NCDA
Founded more than 100 years ago, the New Car Dealers Association® San Diego represents franchised new car and truck dealers throughout San Diego County. The NCDA provides programs and services that are designed to meet the business needs of its dealer members while providing education and training, events and an international auto show, as well as legislative advocacy on issues affecting the automobile industry to continue growing members’ significant economic impact on the San Diego County economy. Learn more about member benefits by clicking the link below.