NADA 2001 Chairman Maguire to Uphold Dealers' Hard-working Legacy

    LAS VEGAS, Nev., Feb. 5 In his remarks at the National
Automobile Dealers Association's 84th annual convention and exposition, NADA
2001 Chairman Robert J. Maguire pledged to make sure that NADA lives up to the
legacy of all those dealers whose hard work built the foundation of the retail
auto industry.  He also said that he will make sure NADA provides the
technological services and training needed to assist dealers with the changing
dynamics of the marketplace.
    Highlights of the address include:

    On The Internet...
    Maguire noted that the Internet has changed from a threat to a resource,
and that dealers should make the most of it.  He pointed out that dealers have
built more than 18,000 Web sites nationally serving countless e-customers.  He
also remarked that 82 percent of dealers have Web sites and almost all of them
offer interactive features such e-mail, inventory searches and online
financing applications.
    "Customers have spoken.  They want to use the Internet for information and
preliminary research, but what they really want is a dealership in the
community that will stand behind their new car or truck," he said.  "A broken
$20 toaster can be thrown away -- a faulty $1000 computer can be boxed up and
returned to the factory -- but manufacturers and dot-coms do not have the
ability to take back vehicles needing repairs or maintenance."

    Mentioned was NADA's powerful new Internet portal, DriversSeat.com,
designed to drive online traffic to dealer Web sites.

    On Industry Relations...
    Maguire emphasized that NADA will continue to be the voice of the dealer
on important industry issues.  "The NADA leadership meets 3 or 4 times a year
with top management at Ford and GM," he said.  "At these meetings, we bring
dealers' concerns to their attention."
    He touched on the problems of Ford's Blue Oval Certified program and the
Oldsmobile transition, and strongly encouraged dealers to share their thoughts
on factory-dealer issues.