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Statement by NADA Chairman Harold B. Wells on Record Vehicle Sales

3 January 2001

Statement by NADA Chairman Harold B. Wells on Record Vehicle Sales

    WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 The following statement regarding the
retail auto industry's record performance in 2000 is from Harold B. Wells,
chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association and a new-car dealer
from Whiteville, N.C.:

    "The past year's record automobile sales are a remarkable achievement for
the nation's franchised new-car dealers.  Equally impressive is the industry's
five-year streak of sales topping 15 million vehicles. That strong performance
is testament to the efficiency of the franchise dealer system and is evidence
of the critical role dealers play in our mobile society."

    The National Automobile Dealers Association represents more than 19,400
franchised new-car and -truck dealers holding nearly 40,000 separate
franchises, domestic and import.