The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation are urging consideration of automobile dealerships among essential operations regarding the nation’s coronavirus response.
“As our nation continues to confront the coronavirus’s challenges, we want to underscore the importance of ensuring that consumers have access to a safe and well-functioning motor vehicle fleet,” wrote NADA President and CEO Peter Welch and Alliance for Automotive Innovation President and CEO John Bozzella in correspondence to President Donald Trump. “Motor vehicles, both new and old, are critical to ensure that the public can get food and other necessities of life, as well as to continue to interact with one another in a manner consistent with public health officials’ recommendations.”
The action stems from some states having taken emergency action to force the closure of businesses deemed nonessential, as well as the lack of uniformity in how states have classified dealership sales, service, and parts operations.
NADA and the Alliance officials indicated they have specifically requested the federal government ensure the nation’s motor vehicle fleet remains as safe and operational as possible by considering vehicle repair, maintenance, and sales facilities as essential operations when federal, state, and local officials impose requirements due to coronavirus.