New chairpersons tell of plans

Harold B. Wells and Barbara K. Vidmar, new chairpersons of the National Auto Dealers Association and the American Import Auto Dealers Association, respectively, tell what they want to do during their year-term.

A five-brand GM dealer and all-brand Chrysler Corp. dealer in Whiteville, NC, Mr. Wells promises to steer NADA aggressively in the undertaking of three initiatives announced late in 1999.

These are:

* A new NADA-sponsored sales website opening in April and incorporating price and inventory data.

* On-going assistance to states seeking to strengthen and enforce factory relations laws, including counsel on addressing factory-ownership issues.

* Promoting satellite training for employees.

"Challenging days will not go away with the victories we won on the GM and Ford factory-ownership campaigns," Mr. Wells declares. "Both the factories and the dealers are looking for better ways to do business."

Mrs. Vidmar, as the first woman to head a national auto retail association, has been active in legislative relations on behalf of AIADA's predominantly "foreign-make" membership.

"AIADA is vital to preserve free trade without unfair taxes or quotas," she says. "It's helpful that U.S. production is increasing among foreign-headquartered manufacturers, but we have to be vigilant to guard against protectionist laws like the 'chicken' tax that has kept Europeans from exporting pickup trucks."

Mrs. Vidmar notes that like many AIADA members, her Vidmar Motor Co. in Colorado has domestic franchises, and shares concerns of NADA on factory-relations and Internet issues.