Horsepower & Politics: When Car Dealers Go to Washington

Inside Automotive with Jim Fitzpatrick, powered by CBT News

Tom Castriota, 2025 NADA Chairman and owner of Castriota Chevrolet, discusses significant industry developments including the rollback of California's EV mandate and the strategy behind dealer advocacy in Washington.
• Celebrating the successful rollback of California's 35% EV mandate after years of behind-the-scenes work
• Advocating for a "bridge" approach to tariffs that would give manufacturers time to adapt while supporting American manufacturing
• Addressing the affordability crisis with average new vehicles approaching $50,000 while average household income remains around $65,000
• Supporting EVs while emphasizing the importance of consumer-driven rather than mandate-driven adoption
• Analyzing threats from Chinese manufacturers whose government subsidies create an uneven competitive landscape
• Defending the franchise dealer system against direct-to-consumer models from manufacturers like Volkswagen's Scout
• Identifying AI as a transformative force for dealerships and emphasizing the continued importance of dealer attitude surveys
• Highlighting the importance of dealer involvement in legislative outreach that helped secure bipartisan support for industry priorities
Please take time to complete the dealer attitude survey, manufacturers take this feedback seriously and use it to shape future decisions.
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فصول

1. Introduction to Tom Castriota (00:00:00)

2. Victory on California EV Mandate (00:02:01)

3. Tariffs and NADA's Bridge Strategy (00:03:43)

4. Affordability Crisis in Auto Industry (00:06:28)

5. EV Market Future and Dealer Support (00:10:01)

6. Chinese Manufacturers and Global Competition (00:13:26)

7. Direct Sales Challenge and Franchise System (00:18:01)

8. NADA's Future Focus and Advocacy (00:21:46)