VADA Live

Bloomberg senior automotive analyst Kevin Tynan talks economic recovery and the future of the automotive industry with VADA GM Jason Wilson. This is a MUST LISTEN/MUST WATCH episode for every dealer in Virginia.

Kevin was set to speak at VADA's Annual Convention this month, but with the event canceled, we decided to have Kevin and other panelists offer their insights and analysis via our High Octane podcast. Kevin has also committed to our 2021 event at the Omni Homestead in Hot Springs, Va.

Special appearance by Farrah Fawcett.

Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn.

Jones Loflin calls this time a "beautiful opportunity" for all business leaders about how to thrive in a time of uncomfortable uncertainty. This is a must-listen motivational interview for any business leader - not simply an auto dealer - to create a stronger team and organization in a new future.

Show notes:

- Learn more about Jones: www.jonesloflin.com

VADA GM Jason Wilson talks to MOC Mid-Atlantic President Jeremy Kimsey on how the company, a partner to dealers across the Atlantic seaboard, is adapting to changes in dealerships caused by COVID-19.

The Powhatan-based company offers two core and complementary services: on the consulting side, MOC helps uncover opportunities that drive increased sales and revenue. On the operational side, the family owned MOC is a one-stop resource for supplies and materials needed to open and run a dealership every day. Those supplies include cleaning agents and protective equipment, such as masks and gloves.

Jeremy talks about how MOC has adapted to the new normal, and cautions dealers on what to look for when buying disinfecting materials to ensure the vehicle is safe for one's health and the interior/exterior materials. Jeremy also shares his own insights on what the future may hold for our industry — including the need to bring more manufacturing of important equipment and chemicals back to America.

Notes:

• MMA website: mocmidatlantic.com
• Email Jeremy: [email protected]
• VADA MOC Mid-Atlantic Profile: vada.com/blog/2019/11/08/partner-profile-moc-mid-atlantic/

We talk to Tommy Lukish, VADA's Legislative and Legal Affairs Manager, who brings us the latest on both state and federal guidance for reopening our economy. Tommy also covers new IRS guidance for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, and insights on how VADA has adjusted and continues to press forward with government relations in the Virginia General Assembly when lawmakers meet in socially distant ways.

See what Executive Order 61 means for your dealership.

For more:

• VADA's Coronavirus Resource Center at www.vada.com/coronavirus
• PPP/IRS guidance summary from Dixon Hughes Goodman: https://www.dhg.com/article/irs-notice-2020-32-clarifies-deductibility-of-expenses-related-to-ppp-loans
• Email Tommy at [email protected]

Earlier this month, Dealer Principal Jake Sodikoff posted on LinkedIn that his Harrisonburg, Va. Nissan store posted a new April store record — and came within 5 units of an all-time volume high. It's an impressive feat, considering April, by many industry analyses, may be considered rock bottom for 2020 car sales.

In early 2020, Sodikoff, a VADA Board member and the association's NextGen Director, initiated a plan to focus more on online sales and home delivery — and when the pandemic hit, that plan paid off. April was Steven Nissan's record for the three Aprils it has been in business.

Sodikoff also attributes success to "a change in mindset," he says. "We were willing to do anything and everything to sell a car." Home deliveries constituted 30% of the dealership's April sales, with paperwork done, literally, on the hood of the new or pre-owned car.

In our latest episode of High Octane:

- Learn Jake's keys to success in online sales/home delivery - Hear about how he manages the tricky balance of pre-owned inventory management, particularly with a glut of pre-owned cars - Hear Jake explain the one thing you can do to take care of employees

While Jake can't predict his own dealership's future or that of the industry, he does add: "I don't see any reason why the car business isn't going to have a great summer."

Links:

• The dealership: www.stevennissan.com
• Contact Jake: [email protected]

Though we're unable to access our VADA HQ podcast recording studio, that doesn't stop us from getting creative and bringing important information to our dealers — this time, through a Zoom video call.

VADA General Manager Jason Wilson hops on Zoom to talk with VADA's communications partner Jeff Kelley. Jason offers insights from his numerous discussions with dealers around Virginia in recent weeks. With the coronavirus pandemic lockdowns now in their seventh week, are dealers seeing sales and service volumes starting to rebound? What are dealership leaders doing to take care of employees? And how are dealers innovating with new offerings — and will these innovations last?

Show notes:

• For the latest on dealer impacts to the coronavirus, visit www.vada.com/coronavirus
• For the Cox Automotive sales report discussed in this episode, visit: www.vada.com/blog/2020/04/28/april-will-see-historic-lows-for-auto-sales-with-silver-lining/
• For the latest VADA survey results (from mid-April), visit: https://vada.com/blog/2020/04/08/survey-shows-extreme-impact-of-covid-19/

We continue our discussion around Crossover in the General Assembly. Don, Anne, and Tommy talk vehicle emission standards, peer-to-peer vehicle sharing, general business legislation — and HB 595, a fun bill sponsored by Del. Jeff Bourne that authorizes DMV to issue speciality plates as dealer tags to Virginia's licensed dealers.

• Listen to Part 1
• Get the latest Capitol Briefs, looking at all VADA-tracked legislation in the 2020 session

Midway through the General Assembly, legislators swap House bills to the Senate and vice versa. Tommy talks to Don and Anne on how session has gone thus far, with 1,664 pieces of legislation (out of more than 3,200) still pending.

Of those bills, a handful are related to auto dealers...and many more related to general industry.

Get the inside scoop from your VADA lobbyists on the latest dealer-dealings at the Virginia statehouse.

Today we talk to Michael Allen, VADA's Chief Information officer and General Manager of VADA Group Self-Insurance.

Many businesses don't consider cybersecurity a problem...until it becomes a huge problem — and potentially one that can cost a dealership hundreds of thousands of dollars to fix and a major disruption to operations. Michael is our in-house cybersecurity specialist and talks to Tommy about cyber cases dealers have seen around the U.S. — and the steps you can take to guard against cyber invasions.

Learn how to protect your dealership and why dealerships are vulnerable — and what to do if you've been hit.

Have questions on cybersecurity or cybersecurity insurance? Email Michael.

Have an idea for a show? Want to be ON High Octane? Email Tommy.

There's been a rash of auto thefts at dealerships and dealer-owned facilities across Virginia.

In our latest episode, we were honored to have as a guest the Virginia State Police's Special Agent Peter Lazear to discuss the VSP's HEAT (Help Eliminate Auto Theft) program and how it is helping combat auto theft across the Commonwealth.

Also on the show: former state trooper and retired Virginia senator Senator Bill Carrico, now a field rep for VADA. Thanks as always to VADA's Tommy Lukish for hosting.

Show notes:

- More on the HEAT program, including a recap of our December event with the state police

- VSP's HEAT on Facebook

- Register for Dealer Day at the Capitol on January 22. Your fellow dealers are attending...are you?