SAN FRANCISCO--September 14, 2012: San Francisco's premiere auto dealers have formed a new trade group, the San Francisco Auto Jobs Alliance, to preserve the city's automotive heritage and promote job creation and economic growth in the city.
“Auto dealers need to speak with a common voice in San Francisco”
The Alliance is comprised of dealers representing the Land Rover, Range Rover, Jaguar, Lotus, Lamborghini, Bentley, Volkswagen, Audi, Volvo, Mazda, Honda, Toyota, BMW, Mini, Mercedes, Smart, Hyundai, and Scion brands.
Together, these franchised auto dealers generated almost $700 million in car sales in San Francisco in 2011 and nearly $9 million in sales tax revenue for the city's General Fund while employing more than 1,500 people.
"Simply put, franchise auto dealers are the economic engine that power Main Street in cities and towns all across America," said Alliance Chairman Andy Hansen, the Chief Operating Officer of Royal Automotive Group. "Here in San Francisco, the Auto Jobs Alliance is upholding an automotive tradition more than 100 years old. We contribute to all sectors of the local, regional and national economy --from employee training and job placement to advertising, real estate and manufacturing."
Most of the Alliance members have been in business in San Francisco for decades with lower overhead than newer suburban dealers. San Francisco auto dealers stock more than 3,000 cars for sale and offer competitive pricing.
The Alliance will advocate for policies and programs that can increase car sales in San Francisco and will preserve the hundreds of jobs provided by each dealership in the city. Over the past summer, the Alliance worked with city elected leaders to craft a compromise on a business tax measure going before San Francisco voters in November.
"Auto dealers need to speak with a common voice in San Francisco," said Alliance Vice Chair David Barsotti, owner of Mercedes San Francisco. "We've shown that we can work with City Hall and with all stakeholders on issues that affect our industry and the city as a whole."
Members of the Auto Jobs Alliance will also continue to support local charities, including the recent donation to UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital of 100 backpacks filled with back-to-school supplies.
For more information, visit SFAJA.
