What is the biggest issue facing dealerships in the next three to five years? We need the infrastructure for charging electric vehicles. The infrastructure must get better for electric cars to be successful. The federal government and manufacturers are pushing for electric vehicles. However, there are still open questions about electric vehicles, such as how far they can go without charging and howmuch it will cost to replace the batteries. New batteries are expensive. Right now, they can cost as much as $20,000 in some cases. Disposal is also a problem because the cells can release toxins from heavy metals, and recycling batteries can be hazardous. Also, service departments will be affected because an electric vehicle only has something like 17-21 moving parts. The automobile industry is going through many changes in the next three years. Dealerships and the public will both affect how the U.S. manages those changes. Although I don’t know what will happen, the big push for switching over to electric vehicles will continue, and everyone will have to find new solutions for the opportunities we face. What would you recommend to dealers to prepare for the future? Be willing to change and adapt to the needs of the customer. Even though some people think 30% of all vehicles will be electric by 2025, I don’t see the change happening that quickly. Manufacturers are already making dealers get ready for electric vehicles by ensuring they have electric charging stations and the tools they need. They are laying everything out, getting us ready. How does membership in the NCDU association benefit members? That’s a really easy answer: Craig and Jason Bickmore work extremely hard for the dealers. They are at the forefront of anything that happens in the car business. They get us ready for and fight our battles on Capitol Hill. They have experience with the things that happen with car manufacturers and all the various aspects of running dealerships. Working at the dealership was enjoyable right from the start. I enjoyed working with the public, the people I worked with and especially with my family. Automotive became my occupation for life. The board has been really good over the years. Members can always feel comfortable talking to another dealer in the group because they are always amenable to helping you. Do you have a favorite automobile? For right now, I love the design and performance of the Genesis GV80. What are you driving? I have been driving a current model or one-year-old Ford F-150. They have a great ride, and I love how comfortable they are. Would you tell us about your family? I am married and have 10 children, seven daughters and three sons. My wife is Julie Weaver Murdock. My three sons are all in the car business. My older sons, Blake and Ben, own and operate the Murdock Auto Team’s seven dealerships. My youngest son Dain and I operate our newly acquired Murdock Ford Dealership in Santaquin, Utah. We have 43 grandchildren. Hopefully, there will be enough car buyers to keep us in business for several years to come. What do you like to do for fun? I have always enjoyed sports, both watching and playing. But nowadays, I love to watch my grandkids, who have a minimum of three games a week. I also enjoy watching sports. We have an annual summer vacation where we all go to Bear Lake and spend a week together with our children, their spouses and the 43 grandchildren. We boat, Jet Ski, play golf and bike there. We rent the same three houses every year because they are close together. We also take little trips throughout the year. What’s the best book you’ve read in the last year? The Man Who Ran Washington, the Life and Times of James A. Baker III. I enjoy reading self-help books. 3 7
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