Pub. 1 2012 Issue 2

4 San Diego Dealer Dear Dealer Members, I n just a few short weeks, the San Diego Convention Center once again becomes home to the San Diego International Auto Show® — December 27-30. The New Car Dealers Association (NCDA) staff has been planning this year’s show for the better part of the past 10months and I strongly encourage every dealer to make time to come down and see how the brand(s) you sell are represented. The number one reason for the Auto Show is to stimulate auto sales at our dealerships at a time when most consumers have been focused on holiday shopping. One of the major ways to get consumers to purchase a new vehicle is the all-important test drive, and this year’s show has a dozen different opportunities for consumers to get behind the wheel of a new car, truck, SUV or crossover. With new vehicle sales increasing for the third consecutive year in 2012, this year’s Auto Show creates a strong opportunity for sales to continue to grow locally in 2013. Now that this year’s federal, state and local elections have concluded, I want to thank all the Dealers who supported the association’s efforts by donating to the NCDA PAC. Those dona- tions enable us to have a voice with legislators who understand how critical the automotive dealer industry is to our local, state and national economies. Never before has our industry shown so brightly as an economic engine that creates a multitude of jobs that aren’t exported overseas, provides access to health benefits for employees and their families, and generates tax revenue for local and state governments. A recap of our representatives in Sacramento and in Washington, DC is on page 24. As we look forward to next year, I believe as dealers we can be cautiously optimistic about our industry. America’s aging vehicle fleet, combined with historically low interest rates and the redesign of many 2013 models should create continued sales of new vehicles. That said, many challenges still remain as the local, state and national economies continue to recover. The omnipresent threat of legislators attempting to utilize our industry as means of taxing consumers with various fees that increase the cost of a vehicle while benefiting government coffers will continue to be a challenge. One of the best ways to combat those types of risks is to be engaged with the NDCA. Your association serves as a conduit to up-to-date industry information, compliance seminars, the political landscape and much more. NCDA President Dean Mansfield and his staff always stand ready to assist you and your dealership staff and I strongly recommend you utilize this valuable resource. On behalf of the NCDA Board of Directors, I want to wish you, your employees and your family a safe and enjoyable holiday season and prosperous New Year. Sincerely, Bill Cumming CHA I RMAN, NCDA BOARD OF D I REC TORS New Car Dealers Association ® San Diego County 10065 Mesa Ridge Court San Diego, CA 92121-2916 Tel: (858) 550-0080 Fax: (858) 550-9537 www.ncda.com NCDA Board of Directors Board Officers Bill Cumming CHAIRMAN J.P. Paynter VICE CHAIRMAN DavidWolfson SECRE TARY/TREASURER John Stall PAST CHAIRMAN Board Members Rick Blakemore Tom Brecht Pamela Burger Ray Burns Paul F. Dyke Jim Fornaca Dave Grundstrom D.J. Heller John McCallan Chairman’s Letter C M Y CM MY CY CMY K