A Message From TADA President Darren Whitehurst I received approval from Business View Magazine to reprint the article published in the April/May issue which I am including below. I did want to mention that we are now less than six months away from the start of the 88th Texas Legislature and it promises to be an active one. We still have the General Election (November 8th) between now and then, but I want to encourage you to connect with your local elected officials, most of whom you know to educate them on issues of importance to you and to Texas automobile dealers across the state. TADA is hard at work representing you on the legislative, legal, and regulatory fronts. Darren Whitehurst, President Texas Automobile Dealers Association (TADA) The driving voice for change As the statewide trade association for nearly 1,400 franchised automobile dealerships in nearly 300 communities throughout the State of Texas, the Texas Automobile Dealers Association (TADA) represents the dealer body before the Texas Legislature, Congress, and all regulatory agencies. TADA members are part of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), the organization representing all franchised automobile dealers in the U.S. TADA is the voice of Texas’ franchised automobile dealers (cars and heavy trucks) in public policy and regulatory matters, advocating on behalf of its members for fair and ethical business practices to better serve consumers in Texas. Members rely on TADA as a valuable resource, providing access to business best practices, educational training programs, legal support, and an annual conference. The association also supports programs for the resolution of consumer complaints — prioritizing consumer welfare by promoting motor vehicle and driver safety, and a safe highway system. By supporting laws that benefit franchised dealers, the automobile industry, and consumers, TADA nurtures a business climate that stimulates growth, opportunity, and financial stability. TADA has existed for more than a century and over time embraces the franchised dealer laws that exist in the state today. Darren Whitehurst, President of TADA, explains, “The franchised dealer system in Texas was put in place to prevent monopolistic behavior on the part of manufacturers selling vehicles directly to the consumer to make sure consumers are getting the best possible deal on the vehicles they are purchasing. Members have an interesting relationship with the manufacturers who supply the vehicles to dealers and regularly have a great relationship with the consumers in providing both the sale and the servicing of vehicles that are sold to them.” Whitehurst has been with TADA for two years and has the utmost respect for his predecessor, Bill Wolters, who worked for TADA for 40 years and “put together a fantastic team.” The association focuses on three areas: The legislative side (franchise laws that are established by the legislature), the enforcement side (regulatory), and the legal side. 6
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