Please Welcome James Fackler, MADA’s newest Executive Vice President

 

Please welcome Mr. James Fackler as the new MADA executive vice president, effective March 1, 2024. James has been the MADA Director of Regulatory Compliance for 18 months and worked in various leadership positions with the Secretary of State’s office prior to that. James has been preparing to take on this new role, following Terry Burns’ 2023 notification to the MADA board that he would be stepping down.

We encourage all members to extend a warm welcome to James, contact him with any questions and take this opportunity to share your thoughts and suggestions for the association. Your insights will be instrumental in continuing to shape the direction of our association.

Meet James at the Spring Dealer Meeting

Dealers and dealership staff are invited to register for the upcoming membership meeting on May 14, where you can meet James, network with colleagues and gain insight on the future of automotive retailing.

Our keynote speaker will be Glenn Mercer, an independent automotive researcher with over 35 years of automotive experience. Mr. Mercer has led project work for investment firms, has been an advisor to industry entities (including NADA) a board member for automotive firms, an expert witness in automotive cases and a lecturer on automotive economics in academia. His “Dealership of Tomorrow” presentation will discuss software-defined vehicles, EVs, changing channels (dealers, agents, direct-to-customer), AI in retailing, China (batteries/exporter) and more!

MADA Spring Dealer Meeting

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Eagle Eye Banquet Center | Bath, MI

(Registration is required)

 

See more on the event webpage: www.michiganada.org/events-education/spring-meeting

 

Supporting the Team: Mental Health Resources Toolkit

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Virtual Well-Being is an innovative program that features two, live interactive webinars and a guided meditation each week. They are meant to be an added value from BCBSM to support employer groups’ well-being programs.

 

  • Member webinars
    • Focus on a different well-being topic each week supporting people in living a thriving life.
    • Member webinars include the Drop 5 Virtual Weight-Loss Community. Drop 5 is a free weight-loss community that meets virtually to help participants feel connected with others who are striving to lose five pounds at a time. Drop 5 celebrates scale and non-scale victories
    • Held on Thursdays, noon Eastern (30 minutes).
    • https://www.mibluesperspectives.com/virtual-webinars/members 

 

Clean Vehicle Energy Credits & Advance Dealer Payments

IRS Requests Dealer Registration in Early December

Dealers who sell “clean vehicles” must sign up with the new IRS Energy Credits Online tool in order to register and report clean vehicle sales that occur on or after January 1, 2024. Reporting clean vehicle sales through this new portal will be necessary for buyers to be eligible for the clean vehicle tax credit.

IRS Energy Credits Online also allows licensed dealers to register and receive advance payments to offset the amount of a tax credit that was applied toward a customer’s purchase price. (Dealers are reminded that advance payments become effective for qualifying vehicles purchased on or after January 1, 2024.)

To ensure that all your registration paperwork is in order, the IRS highly recommends that dealers register in early December. Bank account information and tax filing information must be validated, which takes time to review, especially with many businesses registering. Early registration provides the IRS adequate time to review and process a dealership’s information.  Dealerships will not be eligible for the advance payments until the IRS approves the required business information.

Resources for Dealers

Clean Vehicle and Refueling Infrastructure Incentives

NADA has hosted multiple webinars to help dealers understand the registration process and the 2024 reporting procedures. Please see the links below for more information.

 

Clean Energy Authorization Permission Management (managing employee permission levels)

See Publication 5902 (12-2023) https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5902.pdf

 

New and Used Clean Vehicle Time-of-Sale Reporting

See Publication 5867-A (12-2023) https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5867a.pdf

 

Information for Clean Vehicle Buyers

This IRS consumer checklist and background information will be useful for dealers in educating customers about the credit transfer process.

If you have additional questions you may reach out to James Fackler at MADA. Call (800) 292-1923 or email jfackler@michiganada.org.

 

Register Today for the MADA Annual Meeting!

MADA Annual Meeting | Wednesday, December 13, 2023

This program is open to dealers and dealership staff, plus invited sponsors and guests

As the year draws to a close, it’s time to mark your calendars for the MADA Annual Meeting. Registration is now open for this virtual event, offering insights and updates that will shape the upcoming business landscape.

Economic and Industry Outlook:
Gain crucial insights from industry expert Patrick Manzi, PhD, NADA’s chief economist, who will analyze the economic climate and forecast trends that will impact our businesses in the coming year. Understand key drivers, challenges, and opportunities that lie ahead.

Legal and Regulatory Updates:
Stay abreast of the latest legal and regulatory changes affecting our industry. Eric Bowden with Colombo & Colombo, P.C. will offer a brief legal overview, ensuring you have the knowledge to maintain compliance in this ever-changing regulatory environment.

Association and Legislative Updates:
Hear what your association and board of directors are are working on to support our members and advocate for the interests of our industry.

Date: Wednesday, December 13
Time: 10:00 am
Virtual: Zoom registration link

Please join us as we plan for business changes in 2024!

 

Fixed Ops Training for Member Dealerships

At the request of our members, MADA has been researching training opportunities to support your dealership departments. After a lot of discussion, we have selected an educational program with Mr. Steven Shaw, who is well known in the automotive industry as a professional speaker, trainer, and dealership expert. He is held in the highest regard by dealer principals and associates worldwide and may be considered the top service advisor trainer in the US and Canada.

MADA has scheduled a three-part virtual training program, exclusively for members, which is being offered at a significantly reduced rate. The fee covers all three sessions, in a webinar format so you can invite multiple employees to participate in a group setting.

These live, engaging, instructor-led programs will help your dealership transform individual and team performance with proven strategies and practices. Dealers who provide this training to staff will see improvement in repair order performance, profit, team member earnings, and so much more!

Please add the following dates to your calendar and submit your registration form today!

Oct. 19 | Multi-Point Inspection
Highest impact 3-step process to present the Multi Point Inspection

Oct. 26 | Keys to Communication
Personal communication approaches and best methods to interact with consumers, including words, tone and body language

Nov. 2 | Maintenance Schedules
Best practices to present factory maintenance schedules and required maintenance

 

Please click the link below for a registration form and additional details on each webinar session.

Fixed Ops Training 2023

Free Transportation Safety and Compliance Seminar for Truck Fleet Professionals

Idealease of Detroit/Flint, a subsidiary of Tri-County International Trucks, is sponsoring a private truck fleet safety and compliance seminar on Tuesday, September 26 in Southfield. The one-day seminar will help private truck fleet professionals maintain a safe fleet, provide safety training to their managers, reduce violations and accidents, and satisfy annual Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) compliance requirements.

The seminar is provided by Idealease, Inc. in partnership with the National Private Truck Council (NPTC). Idealease is a fully integrated transportation solutions provider that delivers expertise, responsiveness and stability to the truck transportation industry. Idealease is the leader in comprehensive safety and compliance seminars for private fleets.

The seminar provides a simplified, step-by-step approach to help attendees understand how to comply with FMCSA regulations, manage commercial motor vehicle safety, and control liability exposures. Virtually all aspects of commercial truck operation are covered, including: FMCSA driver screening tools, driving qualifications, hours of service (drivers’ daily logs), drug and alcohol testing rules, vehicle maintenance and inspection, accident recordkeeping and CSA.

After attending the seminar, private truck fleet professionals will have current information to help manage fleet safety for all major areas scrutinized during state and federal compliance interventions and reviews. The seminar’s step-by-step approach simplifies compliance with federal and state regulations, hours of service (drivers’ daily logs), drug and alcohol testing rules, vehicle maintenance and inspection, accident recordkeeping, and driver qualifications. Attendees also learn about new and proposed regulatory changes and how to enhance their safety programs above and beyond regulation requirements.

All seminar attendees receive the Idealease Guide to Transportation Safety and Compliance, a manual that assists fleet managers with safety and compliance documentation, the Idealease Pre- and Post-Trip Inspection DVD for driver education, and a subscription to the Idealease Safety Bulletin, a weekly safety and compliance e-mail publication.

Learn more: https://www.tricotruck.com/idealease/idealease-safety-seminar

 

NADA Show 2024 Video Competition

Win All-Access Passes for Your Entire Dealership to Attend the Auto Industry Event of the Year! 

Picture this: Your dealership crew, front and center at the Auto Industry Event of the Year, gaining invaluable insights, forging connections, and staying ahead of the game. It’s an opportunity that can’t be missed! And now, you have a chance to make it a reality through the NADA Show 2024 Video Competition.

Keep reading for more from NADA about this opportunity…

Are you ready to unveil your inner Spielberg? We want you to create a captivating video, no more than two minutes long, that showcases why dealership employees from every department simply CAN’T MISS the NADA Show. Whether you’re a dealership, an exhibitor, or an OEM, this competition is for you. Whoever emerges victorious can either claim the prize (if they are a dealership) or generously donate it to a dealership they choose.

Once you’ve crafted your masterpiece, it’s time to share it with the world. Upload your video to any and all social media platforms, and don’t forget to include the hashtags #NADAShow and #DrivingTheFuture in the caption. This will ensure that your entry is visible to our esteemed judging panel.

Now, let’s talk about the rewards. The winning video will be featured on the main stage at NADA Show 2024 EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Imagine the thrill of seeing your name in lights, your creativity celebrated, and your dealership’s brand showcased to industry leaders from around the globe.

But that’s not all! The champion of the NADA Show 2024 Video Competition will also receive all-access passes for their entire dealership. That means your colleagues and team members will have full access to the wealth of knowledge, the latest trends, and the groundbreaking innovations that NADA Show has to offer.

And for those left behind to hold down the fort, we’ve got you covered too. We’re throwing a MAMMOTH PIZZA PARTY as a gesture of appreciation for your dedication and hard work. You won’t miss out on the celebration!

So, grab your cameras, gather your teammates, and start filming. Showcase the passion, the drive, and the excellence that defines your dealership. This is your chance to shine on the big stage at NADA Show 2024.

Submit your video ASAP, and who knows? Your creativity might just make you the talk of the industry. Don’t hesitate, start filming, and let’s make this a year to remember!

Attendee registration opens July 31. All videos must be submitted by October 31, 2023. Stay tuned for more updates and get ready to drive the future at NADA Show 2024!

https://www.nada.org/nada/nada-headlines/announcing-nada-show-2024-video-competition

 

Can your staff spot the five most common text message scams?

According to reports in the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel database, text message scams took consumers for $330 million in 2022. The latest Consumer Protection Data Spotlight focuses on this form of fraud. With reported losses more than doubling in 2021 and nearly five times what people reported in 2019, would you be able to spot the five most common text message scams? What about your employees?

The Data Spotlight focuses on these five common text message scams.

1.  Copycat bank fraud prevention alerts.  According to the Data Spotlight, reports about texts impersonating banks are up nearly twentyfold since 2019 with median reported individual losses of $3,000 last year. People get a text supposedly from a bank asking them to call a number ASAP about suspicious activity or to reply YES or NO to verify whether a transaction was authorized. If they reply, they’ll get a call from a phony “fraud department” claiming they want to “help get your money back.” What they really want to do is make unauthorized transfers. What’s more, they may ask for personal information like Social Security numbers, setting people up for possible identity theft.

2.  Bogus “gifts” that can cost you.  What about those texts claiming to be from a well-known company offering a free gift or reward? If people click the link and use their credit card to cover the small “shipping fee,” they’ve just handed over their account information to a scammer. Reports to Consumer Sentinel tell us that fraudulent charges are likely to follow.

3.  Fake package delivery problems.  On any given day, what home or business isn’t expecting a delivery? Scammers understand how our shopping habits have changed and have updated their sleazy tactics accordingly. People may get a text pretending to be from the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx, or UPS claiming there’s a problem with a delivery. The text links to a convincing-looking – but utterly bogus – website that asks for a credit card number to cover a small “redelivery fee.”

4.  Phony job offers.  With workplaces in transition, some scammers are using texts to perpetrate old-school forms of fraud – for example, fake “mystery shopper” jobs or bogus money-making offers for driving around with cars wrapped in ads. Other texts target people who post their resumes on employment websites. They claim to offer jobs and even send job seekers checks, usually with instructions to send some of the money to a different address for materials, training, or the like. By the time the check bounces, the person’s money – and the phony “employer” – are long gone.

5)  Not-really-from-Amazon security alerts.  People may get what looks like a message from “Amazon,” asking to verify a big-ticket order they didn’t place. Concerned about the security of their account, people call the number in the text and are connected to a phony Amazon rep who offers to “fix” their account. But oopsie! Several zeroes are mistakenly added to the “refund” and the “operator” needs the caller to return the overpayment, often in the form of gift card PIN numbers.

According to the Data Spotlight, reporting can help stop scam text messages. Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM). This helps your wireless provider block similar messages. Report it on either the Apple iMessages app or Google’s Messages app for Android users. And report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog/2023/06/can-your-staff-spot-five-most-common-text-message-scams

Effective April 18 – Changes to New Vehicle EV Tax Credits

IRS issues guidance and updates frequently asked questions related to the new clean vehicle critical mineral and battery components

Search eligible vehicles at FuelEconomy.gov: https://fueleconomy.gov/feg/tax2023.shtml

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service issued a proposed regulation related to certain requirements that must be met for critical minerals and battery components for the new clean vehicle credit.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) allows a maximum credit of $7,500 per vehicle, consisting of $3,750 in the case of a vehicle that meets certain requirements relating to critical minerals and $3,750 in the case of a vehicle that meets certain requirements relating to battery components.

The critical mineral and battery component requirements will apply to vehicles placed in service on or after April 18, 2023, the day after the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is issued in the Federal Register.

New clean vehicles placed in service on or after April 18, 2023, are subject to the critical mineral and battery component requirements even if the vehicle was ordered or purchased before April 18, 2023. A vehicle’s eligibility for the new clean vehicle credit is generally based on the rules that apply as of the date a vehicle is placed in service, meaning the date the taxpayer takes delivery of the vehicle.

This means that the vehicle may or may not be eligible depending on whether it meets the critical mineral and battery component requirements.

As a result of this guidance, the IRS updated the frequently-asked-questions (FAQs) for the clean vehicle credits.

Fact Sheet 2023-08 updates FAQs related to new, previously owned and qualified commercial clean vehicles.

The FAQs revisions are as follows:

  • Topic A: Eligibility Rules for the New Clean Vehicle Credit: Questions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, added question 11
  • Topic B: Income and Price Limitations for the New Clean Vehicle Credit: added question 2, renumbering questions 2 through 10 to 3 through 11, respectively, updated questions 1, 3, 7, 8, and 9
  • Topic C: When the New Requirements Apply to the New Clean Vehicle Credit: Questions 2, 4, 5, and 6, added question 8, renumbered prior question 8 to question 9
  • Topic F: Claiming the Previously Owned Clean Vehicles Credit: Question 2
  • Topic G: Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicles Credit: Added question 10

These FAQs are being issued to provide general information to taxpayers and tax professionals as expeditiously as possible.

Michigan Dealer Awards

Do You Know a Dealer Whose Support Goes Above and Beyond?

Each year during the NADA Show, Michigan dealers are awarded for their strong commitment to community and/or education. MADA is now accepting nominations for the TIME Dealer of the Year award and the Northwood Dealer Education award, to be presented during the 2024 NADA Show in Las Vegas.

It is always an honor to recognize individuals who improve their local community and provide opportunities for those around them. Dealers provide a significant and positive impact on the communities where they live and work. Dealers also support local schools, provide on-the-job training for students, and sponsor youth programs. MADA requests your help to nominate dealers who go above and beyond for their community.

Please review the nominee qualifications and let us know who you feel is deserving of a prestigious dealer award. *nomination form*

Time Dealer of the Year award, in partnership with Ally logo

The TIME Dealer of the Year award recognizes exceptional performance and outstanding community service that is an inspiration to us all. By presenting this annual award, TIME, Ally and NADA honor new-car dealers across America and their tireless efforts to improve their communities and the world around them

 

The Northwood Dealer Education Award was developed by Northwood University to recognize automobile dealers across the United States for their dedication and contributions to the advancement of education at all levels, both inside and out of the automotive industry.