This week, individuals from dealerships and dealer groups across Virginia gathered at our Association headquarters in Richmond for a meeting on dealership advertising and marketing. While the Virginia Code, Virginia Motor Vehicle Dealer Board (MVDB), and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provide some guidance on advertising in this context, the reality is many of the current laws and regulations in the Commonwealth preexisted common forms of vehicle marketing today.
Some hot topics we discussed:
- Rebates/Incentives/Discounts
- Removing Vehicle from Website
- Freight
- Vehicle Location
- Transfer Fees
- Processing Fees
- Other Fees
- Third Party Listings
- Advertising Formats – Websites, Mobile Devices, Social Media
A variety of individuals comprised our “task force” for the meeting, and you can see a full list of dealership/dealer group representation below. A few Dealer Principals and General Managers were on hand for the discussion, including two dealer representatives on the MVDB. But the majority of the group consisted of individuals with expertise in modern, electronic forms of dealership advertising and years of experience in this area of the automotive industry.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss ways to create a level playing field for all when it comes to dealership advertising. We want an environment where the laws and regulations are current, understandable, and encouraging dealers to comply. That said, our discussion also included mention of what we cannot do to change the status quo. VADA President & CEO Don Hall facilitated discussion. He was joined by Mike Charapp, Esq.; Anne Gambardella, Esq.; Tommy Lukish, Esq.; and other VADA Staff.
We thank all those who joined us and look forward to continued discussion in the future.
Dealerships and Dealer Groups Represented:
- Berglund Automotive
- Carter Myers Automotive
- Jim Koons Management Co.
- Ourisman Automotive of Virginia
- Page Auto Group
- Pohanka Chevrolet, Inc.
- Priority Auto Group
- Richmond Ford Lincoln
- Rosenthal Automotive Group
- Royal Chevrolet Co.
- Sheehy Automotive Group
- Shelor Motor Mile
- Ted Britt Automotive Group
- The Pomoco Group, Inc.
