For Mike Stanton, leading the nation s largest franchised dealer association is a dream opportunity.
As the Washington, D.C., native settles into the role of CEO of the National Automobile Dealers Association this month, the opportunity comes with an unprecedented challenge for a new leader: steering the organization and its 16,000-plus members through the coronavirus pandemic.
But Stanton, who started his career at NADA in 2000 and most recently managed its daily operations as COO, has the advantage of seeing firsthand how the association was led through periods of crisis and stability under three former leaders: Frank McCarthy, Phil Brady and newly retired Peter Welch.
It is an oasis of opulence at Interstate 95 and Butler Boulevard, its landscaped driveways and second-floor balcony bedecked with brand-new $200,000 Bentleys and $100,000 Maseratis.
But with new-car sales down this year as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, how is Mario Murgado’s 40,987-square-foot dealership at 7137 Bonneval Road doing after opening in the middle of it all?
Jacksonville’s purveyor of prestige at the highest-end said they have done very well so far, averaging about four new Bentleys a month since opening June 18, with others on order. Murgado expects that trend to continue as he sells many more new Bentleys, Alfa Romeos and Maseratis as well as a plethora of pre-owned high-end Rolls-Royces, Ferraris, Jaguars and other premium product parked on his sales floors.
In business notes, a local car dealership plans for new ownership, a William & Mary grad named to U.S. Small Business Administration’s Region 3 Regulatory Fairness Board, and a number of store changes at Williamsburg Premium Outlet.
Portland auto dealer Jim Fisher wins national recognition December 22 2020
The owner and general manager of Jim Fisher Volvo in Portland, has been nominated for the 2021 TIME Dealer of the Year award.
Jim Fisher Jr., owner and general manager of Jim Fisher Volvo in Portland, has been nominated for the 2021 TIME Dealer of the Year award.
The award is one of the automobile industry s most prestigious and highly coveted honors. Recipients are among the nation s most successful auto dealers who also demonstrate a long-standing commitment to community service. We wouldn t be as successful as we are today without having great customer relationships. We are proud to have many, many repeat customers and friends that we do business with every day, Fisher said.
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Due to a lack of a national mandate, states and counties are making their own decisions about whether masks are required where cars are sold.
Both the National Automobile Dealers Association and AutoNation have detailed, official mask policies in place.
But that doesn t mean everyone you meet at a dealership will be wearing a mask. Just ask Twitter about that.
As state governments mask mandates have gone in and out of implementation over the course of 2020, and masks themselves have become a political issue, car shoppers have had to navigate a patchwork of mask enforcements and culture. Some, but not all, states require masks to be worn in commercial establishments. That includes car dealerships, and the lack of a national mandate can mean that customers don t always have a clear right, when going in for service or to buy a car, to avoid coming into contact with an unmasked person.