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Symes Elected to Lead California New Car Dealers

9 May 2000

Symes Elected to Lead California New Car Dealers

    LOS ANGELES, May 9 Pasadena native John Symes was elected
as President of the California Motor Car Dealer Association (CMCDA), at the
group's Annual Convention.  Symes, a third generation car dealer, owns and
operates Symes Cadillac/Land Rover and Symes Toyota of Pasadena.
    The Symes family Cadillac, Land Rover, and Toyota dealerships have served
the Pasadena community for over 50 years.  Symes' grandfather, Jack, opened
Jack Symes Motors in 1949.  His father, Bill, continued the business and was
president of the Southern California Motor Car Dealers Association in 1973.
He also served as the President of the National Automobile Dealers Association
(NADA) in 1985.  Both are still very active in the community, serving on many
boards.
    The California Motor Car Dealers Association, established in 1924,
represents over 1400 franchised new car dealers in California.  Combined,
these businesses are an economic powerhouse.  In 1999, dealers provided more
than 137,000 jobs across the state, with payrolls in excess of $5 billion.
Additionally, California's franchised new car dealers provided $4.4 billion in
federal, state, and local taxes.
    One of Symes' top priorities this year is legislation that will strengthen
and protect California's new car franchising system.  The Association is
supporting legislation introduced by Sen. Joe Dunn (D-Garden Grove), SB1819,
the Automotive Franchise Fairness Act.  The legislation passed its first
hurdle in late April, passing out of the Senate Judiciary Committee by a 7-0
vote.
    "California's new car dealers can compete with anyone," Symes said.
"Local dealers can compete with factory-owned stores, publicly-held stores,
and Internet brokers as long as the playing field is level.  We need to be
constantly aware of the choices consumers must have to ensure a competitive
marketplace."
    Current law prohibits direct competition between manufacturers and local
dealers except in some specific circumstances.  The enormous advantages that
manufacturers enjoy, such as distribution and availability of inventory, would
allow manufacturers to exploit the system to unfairly compete with local
dealers.
    "It's their ball and they make the rules.  We want a fair game," Symes
said.
    "Our current system promotes competition and protects consumers, by
ensuring a wide variety of choices that allow consumers to shop around for the
best deal," Symes continued.  "But without this bill, manufacturers can create
a monopoly that will eliminate those choices."
    The other members of the Dealer Association's leadership team include
Avery Greene, president of Avery Greene Motors in Vallejo as the Association's
first vice president, and Robert Hemborg of Hemborg Ford in Norco as the
secretary/treasurer.

     Contact:  Ann Sinclair
               415-678-2786