CATA News

Since the latest rules governing EV purchase tax credits (30D) came into effect on April 18, 2023, the list of vehicles eligible for the purchase tax credit has changed. As of August 15, 2023, eight MY 2023 models qualify for the full $7,500 credit, and eight MY 2023 models qualify for the $3,750 credit. In addition, four MY 2024 models will also qualify, three at $7,500 and one at $3,750.

To obtain the credit, consumers and dealers do not need to know the qualifying factors (including battery and mineral content and assembly location). The relevant information they do need includes: whether that vehicle qualifies for a tax credit (and if it receives the full $7,500 or the half credit of $3,750), the vehicle’s MSRP and the consumer’s modified adjusted gross income.

With dealer input, NADA is advocating for a VIN search program, so that they and consumers can easily verify which vehicles qualify.

MY 2023 models qualifying for the full $7,500 credit:

MY 2023 models qualifying for $3,750 credit:

Additional models qualifying in 2024:

It has come to our attention that many dealerships are placing passenger plates on Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz. These vehicles are considered TRUCKS by the state of Illinois and must be plated properly.

Previously, the fee for switching plates from passenger plates to truck plates had been waived; however, beginning Sept. 1, 2023, if a customer is not given the appropriate truck plate for these vehicles, the dealership will be responsible for the $29.00 switch plate fee.

The CATA has received a confirmed report of 11 cases of odometer rollbacks on a truck trades from Stellantis. A hauling company that uses Ram cab and chassis trucks utilized a device that backs up odometer mileage. Then they attempted to trade these vehicles on new purchases.

This issue was discovered when a traded vehicle needed warranty service and Cummins accessed the engine control module. Utilizing an "engine hours operated" calculation to confirm the odometer mileage shown was incorrect, Cummins restricts the warranty if the hours calculate to be excessive.

In all cases the attempted trade is detailed to look new and the rear frame is painted. The hauling company go from dealer to dealer looking to sell the vehicle for at least the payoff amount.

If taken on trade, these trucks will need to be sold as "miles not accurate" and no service contract is available.

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitles eligible employees of employers with at least 50 employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period for specified family and medical reasons. The employer may elect to use the calendar year, a fixed 12-month leave or fiscal year, or a 12-month period prior to or after the commencement of leave as the 12-month period. FMLA contains provisions on employer coverage; employee eligibility; maintenance of health benefits during leave; job restoration after leave; notice and certification of the need for leave; and protection for employees who request or take FMLA leave.

Short-Term Disability (STD) is offered by private insurance companies to offer partial wage replacement while an employee is out of work due to a policy specific covered medical condition. STD does not provide job protection or maintenance of health benefits.

Because FMLA and STD serve different purposes, it is common for an employer to run FMLA and STD leave concurrently with each other when the reason for the need for FMLA relates to the employee’s own health condition. In fact, doing so is recommended so an employee may not take STD leave after FMLA leave has been exhausted. If the employee’s health condition is a FMLA-qualifying “serious health condition”, it will likely also be covered by STD.

When an employee’s need for FMLA leave relates to anything other than the employee’s own medical condition, STD will rarely be an option because that need will not be a covered benefit under the STD policy.

Recently spotlighted in the Chicago Tribune and Elgin Courier News, Brilliance Subaru hosted a reunion event for more than 75 Beagle owners a year after the dogs were rescued from a Virginia testing facility.

Anderson Humane took in 177 of the 4,000 dogs found at Envigo, a breeding and research facility in Cumberland, Virginia, which was shut down after the U.S. Department of Agriculture discovered myriad federal violations that resulted in the animals dying or being ill, injured or malnourished.

The beagles were brought to South Elgin with assistance from Brilliance Subaru, Anderson CEO and president David Daubert said. Some of the animals were collected by Anderson staff using two shelter vans while Brilliance Subaru owner Kevin Keefe and dealership general manager Jim DaLuga drove an auto parts truck to get the rest.

“This is overwhelming,” said Kevin Keefe, owner of Brilliance Subaru, which helped organize the gathering at his Elgin car dealership.

Read the full story here.

James W. Reilly, who owned Family Oldsmobile-Pontiac-Isuzu of the North Aurora Auto Mall passed away Aug. 25, 2023. Mr. Reilly was a Vietnam Veteran and at the conclusion of his service he returned home to Chicago and began his career in the automotive business. He started at Haggerty Oldsmobile on the north side and later joined Fanning Cadillac-Buick-Serling where he had a distinguished career and became that company’s president.

In 1991, Mr. Reilly purchased the Oldsmobile dealership in Berwyn, Ill., named it Family Oldsmobile and continued to represent General Motors from Berwyn, Aurora, and North Aurora until 2007. At the urging of General Motors, Mr. Reilly oversaw the construction of a new vehicle facility in the North Aurora Auto Mall. After the demise of Oldsmobile, The Family dealership added Pontiac and Isuzu. Mr. Reilly was President of the Chicagoland Oldsmobile Dealers Association and was President of the Berwyn Development Corporation.

Mr. Reilly is survived by his wife Diane, his sons, Curt (Sherrie), Scott (Kerstin), and his beloved grandchildren.

Offering a deeper look into your CATA membership, we’re proud to introduce UP TO SPEED, a new quarterly publication that will keep members abreast of the latest association activities and provide members  an in-depth look into key industry trends and best practices.

Along with the printed edition that was mailed to each member, a digital version will be distributed as well. This online version allows you to share articles among co-workers and to your favorite social media platforms. At the top and bottom of each online article, we have placed Social Share buttons for your convenience.

Click Here to Read the First Edition of CATA Up to Speed!

A new Illinois law that takes effect on Jan. 1, 2025, will require more transparency in job postings. Changes include disclosing pay scale and benefits. CATA Approved Partner SESCO provides free HR support to CATA members. Below are the changes required in the upcoming law.

Contact your HR and employment law partner if you have any questions. For assistance, contact SESCO at 423-764-4127 or by email at sesco@sescomgt.com.

To ensure that you are receiving the most up to date information, please subscribe to SESCO News Blasts.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) announced that the next round of funding for the Electric Vehicle Rebate Program will open on Nov. 1, 2023. An application for the Illinois EV rebate must be submitted to IEPA within 90 days after purchase. IEPA will give priority to low-income purchasers and then awards rebates to remaining purchasers in the order the applications are received.

For more information, click here.

Fixed Operations Strength and Leadership Summit, Presented by Zurich

When: Thursday, September 07, 2023, 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Location: CATA HQ 18W200 Butterfield Rd., Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181

If You Only Spend One Hour on Fixed Ops Next Month, Make It This One

Join CATA and Zurich on Sept. 7 for a one-hour Fixed Operations Strength and Leadership Summit. During this informative seminar, led by industry expert Steve Shaw, you’ll learn how building a high-performing Fixed Ops team can transform People and Processes to drive more Profit.

During the summit, Shaw will cover:

REGISTER TODAY, don’t miss this valuable session!

The Art & Science of the Appraisal, Presented by ACV Auctions

When: Thursday, September 14, 2023, 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Location: CATA HQ 18W200 Butterfield Rd., Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181

Appraisals are one of the most important areas in the dealership and are now more complex than ever before. Dealers appraise trades at the dealership, online, at homes and offices, out of state and in the service center. These intricacies, along with volatile vehicle prices, have made appraisals more difficult. Missing damage or flaws can massively affect the cost to market and ruin opportunity for profit.

By developing a step-by-step game plan on improving the appraisal process and, therefore, trading for more vehicles, dealers can retain more customers, create more loyalty and ultimately drive greater overall profitability for their business.

Don’t let the title fool you. In addition to being one of the most important areas of the dealership, appraisals are more complex than ever before. They can make or break your sales, crush your reputation and dealership profitability. Dealers will create a game plan to improve their appraisal process with help from technology and insights from top dealers nationwide.

• Uncover how to leverage appraisals to trade for more cars and drive profits;
• Leverage tech to ensure appraisals are accurate and fairly communicated to customers;
• Understand the dangers of under and over appraising vehicles, and how to avoid this misstep

REGISTER TOAY! Don't miss this interactive lecture with ACV's Randy Barone.