The National Automobile Dealers Association’s (NADA) 63-member board of directors elected Wes Lutz as chair for the 2018 term.
Lutz, president of Extreme Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep-Ram in Jackson, Mich., said he will continue to advocate new-car dealer concerns in the industry, legislative and regulatory affairs arenas as well as encourage dealers to adapt to the retailing challenges ahead.
Lutz represents Michigan’s new-car dealers on NADA’s board. The new term officially begins at the 2018 NADA Show in Las Vegas next March.
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“From start to finish, the nation’s franchised new-car dealership network must benefit consumers in newer ways than ever before,” said Lutz, who has been a dealer since 1976. He is currently serving as NADA vice chair, and previously served on NADA’s board from 2001 to 2004.
- Charlie Gilchrist, who represents Northern Texas’ new-car dealers on NADA’s board, was elected vice chair. Gilchrist is president of Southwest Ford in Weatherford, Texas, and a Buick-GMC, Nissan and Mitsubishi dealer.
- Bill Willis, president of Willis Automotive Group (Chevrolet-Buick-Ford) in Smyrna, Del., was re-elected as secretary.
- Bob Shuman, president of Shuman Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram in Walled Lake, Mich., was elected treasurer.
NADA was founded in 1917 when 30 auto dealers traveled to the nation’s capital to convince Congress not to impose a luxury tax on the automobile. They successfully argued that the automobile is a necessity of American life, not a luxury. From that experience, NADA was born. NADA now represents nearly 16,500 new-car and -truck dealerships, with both domestic and off-shore franchises.
