MADA is thrilled to commemorate our 100 years - Media ...

MADA Celebrates a
GREAT Convention!
MADA and our members enjoyed a truly great
convention this past June! Teaming up with VADA,
all who attended enjoyed the elegant comforts of the
Greenbrier Resort, the latest in industry and business
news, and family fun.
The highlight of the convention was certainly the presence of three top
industry executives. Alan Batey, Vice President of Sales & Service for
Chevrolet, was the first to speak. Mr. Batey assured attendees that the
Chevrolet brand, celebrating it’s 100th anniversary in 2011, would successfully
move forward into the future and would begin it’s next 100 years in strength.
He also added that Chevrolet has spent the last several months actively consolidating
their brand image to present a united single front, while at the same time
focusing on the market trends in local markets. “Thinking globally, but acting
locally” is how Mr. Batey defined Chevrolet’s new tactic.
Ford President and CEO, Alan Mulally, followed Mr. Batey. He opened his
speech by thanking dealers and associate members for the opportunity to join them.
After briefly discussing the bankruptcies and admitting that flying in on a private
jet for the 2009 Congressional hearings perhaps wasn’t the best idea, Mr. Mulally
then opened the floor for questions. When a guest asked him about Ford’s new
plan, Mr. Mulally noted that Ford will cover 100% of the American market with 20
nameplates ranging from small, fuel-efficient cars like the Fiesta to larger familyfriendly
crossovers, while still providing light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks and
the new small utility truck, the Ford Transit.
Bob Carter, Group Vice President and General Manager, Toyota Division;
Toyota Motor Sales, USA, closed the Saturday session by covering the current
Toyota hot-topic, the recalls in early 2010. Mr. Carter discussed the timeline of
the recalls and then highlighted Toyota’s quick response, stating that the company
never flinched when it was suggested that they shut down production plants
to ensure that dealers had the new replacement parts to fix current customer’s
cars. He also explained that the company took additional measures to ensure
customer satisfaction and provided dealers with a blanket fund, to be used at
their discretion, to meet customer needs and to ensure that every Toyota customer
was safe and happy in their cars.
Maryland Automobile Dealers Association 20