CATA News

Last week, CATA Chairman Jason Roberts, CATA President Jennifer Morand, CATA EVP Chris Konecki, along with NADA Board Member Joe Massarelli (Liberty Auto City), traveled to D.C. to attend the annual NADA Washington Conference. It was a busy, successful couple days of meetings on Capitol Hill with key legislators and/or their Chief of Staff, including Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Congressman Robin Kelly, Congressman Mike Quigley, and Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin.

The NADA briefed the CATA team on the key federal issues to relay to the legislators. The primary issues communicated were:

The team did a wonderful job communicating these messages that were heard loud and clear in Washington!

Earlier this week, Hyundai Hope On Wheels, along with Chicago Auto Show Chairwoman and Webb Auto Group Dealer Kelly Webb Roberts, presented Lurie Children's a $400,000 Hope Grant and $250,000 Hyundai Young Investigator Grant. The Hope Grant and Hyundai Young Investigator Grant were presented to Dr. Loretta Li and Dr. Kevin McNearny from Lurie Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders during a check presentation and Handprint Ceremony, the signature event of Hyundai Hope On Wheels, in which local children impacted by pediatric cancer dip their hands in paint and place their handprints on a white Hyundai Hope On Wheels vehicle to commemorate their personal stories of hope.

CATA Member Dealer River Front Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram opened the first Dedicated Ram Truck Center in the Midwest. The center is set to cater exclusively to the sales, service, and customization needs of Ram Trucks and ProMaster Vans, further enhancing the dealership’s commitment to delivering specialized care and expertise for its truck and commercial van customers.

Located at 1851 Orchard Gateway Blvd., North Aurora, IL 60542, this state-of-the-art facility is a one-stop shop designed to meet the growing demand for Ram's lineup of heavy-duty trucks and ProMaster vans, both for personal and commercial use. Whether you're in the market for a powerful Ram Truck, or the versatile ProMaster Van, the center is fully equipped with a wide inventory, dedicated service bays, and expert technicians focused solely on Ram vehicles.

"Our new Ram Truck Center offers a truly unique experience for our customers," said Corey Spooner, General Manager of River Front Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram. "From the moment they step inside, truck and van owners will find a dedicated team of specialists who understand the needs of these vehicles. This allows us to provide a superior level of service, sales, and support that’s unmatched in the region."

For any electric vehicle owner that would like a passenger license plate on their vehicle there will be an addition $100 surcharge on the registration.

Fees

Random-Number License Plate Fees

Newly acquired vehicle/first-time issuance - $316 ($165 title fee + $151 registration fee)

Currently titled vehicle/first-time issuance - $151 registration fee

Current plates expire within 90 days - $180

For more information, contact Joey White at Vitu.

On September 23, NADA Dealer Stellantis Representatives, NADA Executives, NADA’s Industry Relations team and members of the Stellantis National Dealer Council met with Carlos Zarlenga, Stellantis NA COO, and other key executives to share the results of the NADA Summer Dealer Attitude Survey and discuss dealer dissatisfaction that was made public in recent weeks. 

Key issues were market share loss, rising inventories, dealer profitability, product quality and product pricing. Executive departures and multiple rounds of layoffs were also cited as contributing to dealer dissatisfaction. Dealers recommended the brand take bold and immediate action, simplify operations, and communicate a plan for future success.

Mr. Zarlenga listened carefully as the dealers in attendance fleshed out aspects of each concern.  He responded that current issues had developed over time and have had long term impacts. He said the brand could not ask for blind trust from dealers and must earn trust back over time.  

What’s Next: Dealers asked for Stellantis to share a plan that will result in an improved partnership and offer hope and assurances for the future. NADA will continue to support the actions of the Stellantis dealer council and monitor dealer feedback for reactions to Stellantis’ marketplace actions. NADA will directly re-engage with Stellantis as required. 

Compliance Alert: What Dealerships Need to Know About Corporate Transparency Act Reporting Requirements

[From NADA] Under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), which went into effect on January 1, 2024, many business owners are required to file corporate transparency reports with beneficial ownership information (BOI) no later than January 1, 2025.

The CTA reporting mandates are designed to bolster transparency and combat financial crimes. Those who fail to meet this deadline could face up to two years imprisonment and fines up to $10,000, in addition to civil penalties of up to $591 per day.

Who needs to file:The CTA’s reporting requirements apply to “reporting companies,” which includes corporations, limited liability companies and any other entities created by the filing of a document with a secretary of state or any similar office in the U.S.

Important deadlines: 

To learn more about this reporting requirement, NADA is hosting a webinar on October 31 at 1:00 p.m. Stay tuned for more information. In the meantime, please also see the resources below.  

Northwoods University is encouraging dealers to consider nominating a deserving dealer principal for a Dealer Education Award. The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to automotive marketing education over several years.

Key points to consider when submitting a nomination:

The awards breakfast will be held during the NADA Convention in New Orleans on Saturday, January 25, 2025, from 6:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside.

As the year draws to a close, the CATA is happy to provide a list of dealership specific records retention rules. This list is provided by CATA Allied Member Woodward & Associates. Woodward proudly serves more than 300 new car dealers across the Midwest. For more information, please contact Scott Woodward at with any questions.

Click HERE to download the Records Retention Rules list.

Thanks to the CATA’s partnership with Dynatron, DriveChicago.com is now driving service traffic to CATA dealers. DriveChicago.com recently added a NHTSA Recall Search tool that allows site visitors to check for open recalls on their vehicles. If a vehicle has a recall, then the site visitor is presented with direct links to CATA Dealer member service departments to book appointments.

For CATA dealers, staying ahead of vehicle recalls can be challenging. Dynatron has solutions to keep dealers informed and proactive. Its MarketSmart Recall program uses the latest data to help dealerships connect with customers and turn recalls into revenue. Dynatron's data-driven approach ensures you're not just reacting to recalls but turning them into opportunities.

Don’t let outdated OEM programs hold you back—learn how we can drive more traffic to your service bays! Explore our full article to see how Dynatron can help you streamline recall processes and boost profitability.

The Chicago Automobile Trade Association will host the third annual Chicago Drives Electric EV education and test drive event on Oct. 3-6 at CATA HQ in Oakbrook Terrace. Dealers are invited to attend a morning session on Thursday, Oct. 3 from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. This exclusive event will provide CATA Dealer members one-on-one time with the latest EVs to gather driving impressions, create content, vehicle education and more. Below is the schedule for the morning.

Participating manufacturers for the media day include Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Fiat, Ford, GMC, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Toyota and Volvo. You can find a full list of vehicles here.

Thursday, Oct. 3

Register NOW for this free event.