Out-going NADA Chairman Praises Dealers' Resilience in Face of Disasters, Obstacles

ORLANDO, Fla. - Out-going NADA Chairman Jack Kain used his last address to the association at the opening ceremony of the National Automobile Dealers Association's 2006 Annual Convention to commend car dealers' response to last year's devastating hurricanes. He described their behavior as being one of the many examples that show the resilience of the franchise system. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the franchise system. Kain cited dealers' contributions of $4 million to the National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation's Emergency Relief Fund to assist Gulf Coast dealerships impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. "I've never seen anything so impressive. This is dealer service at its best," he told attendees at the convention. He said he also hoped the hurricanes and the publicity given to the thousands of flood damaged vehicles, would bolster NADA's efforts to lobby for federal legislation against title fraud. Kain also used the opportunity to address the employee cutbacks at Ford and the talk about automaker restructuring and potential dealer downsizing. He assured attendees that NADA has "carried a very clear message to manufacturers - any right-sizing should only be driven by market forces." Approximately 26,000 attendees were at this year's convention, NADA's 89th, to attend the various workshops and general sessions, as well as walk the record 377,00 square feet of exhibition hall space.