On behalf of the entire IADA Board of Directors, we are reaching out with an important message and a sincere ask for your partnership.

Doing business in Illinois has never been more challenging. The cost of operating here continues to rise — and so does the cost of protecting our interests in Springfield. That’s why your support of our Association programs like IADA-CVR, Ethos and others is more critical than ever.

Please take a moment to read this issue of our magazine. Inside, you’ll find a deeper look at the powerful work IADA is doing to protect and strengthen the Illinois dealership model — a model that benefits all our dealerships. We’re asking you to take advantage of an easy and outstanding opportunity to partner through the Illinois Automobile Dealers Association to protect the Illinois dealership model.

Why Your Support Matters

Your partnership in programs like IADA-CVR and Ethos is a vital funding source that enables IADA to advocate for you — both legislatively and legally — in defense of the Illinois dealership franchise system. The entire staff of the IADA team is either advocating at the Capitol or servicing our dealerships and customers with the CVR process — or both.

If you’re already participating in the CVR program, thank you. You are supporting the fight to preserve our dealership industry. If you’re not yet involved, we need you with us.

To join us, please reach out to the Association office at (217) 753-0220. They’re here to help answer your questions and walk you through the sign-up process.

Membership dues account for less than 5% of IADA’s total budget. Without IADA programs like CVR and Ethos, we simply couldn’t do what we do. And without IADA, it would be the state — not us — shaping the future of our industry. We can’t let that happen.

What IADA Has Accomplished — With Your Support

Thanks to your partnership, we’ve:

• Increased the doc fee to $367, putting millions of dollars back into dealerships — and we’re pushing to raise it another $100 this spring.
• Worked to strengthen the Illinois Franchise Act to prevent manufacturers like Volkswagen and Honda from bypassing dealers with spin-off brands or direct sales models.
• Passed legislation to allow dealers to collect retail rates for warranty work — a critical win for our service departments.
• Invested over $1 million to defeat Ford’s “Model e” plan, which threatened to eliminate the dealer’s role in the sales process.

These are just a few examples of how IADA’s efforts have allowed us to keep more money in our dealerships. Any one of these issues has allowed us to reinvest millions of dollars back into our businesses to better serve our customers and communities. But the challenges facing us with manufacturers trying to circumvent the Illinois dealership model are great. Support us the easy way by partnering with us through the Association CVR partnership and other IADA programs.

Thank you for your time, your trust and your continued commitment to our shared success.

Sincerely,
Jamie Auffenberg, Chairman, Auffenberg Auto Mall — Shiloh
Rick Curia, Vice Chairman, Ken Nelson Auto Group — Dixon
Ryan Gremore, Secretary/Treasurer, O’Brien Auto Team — Normal