Hyundai, Subaru and Lexus Top Overall Rankings in NADA Survey

New-car dealers to meet with automaker executives at 26 franchise meetings during the NADA convention in Las Vegas

MCLEAN, Va., Jan 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New-car dealer satisfaction with their respective auto manufacturers continued to increase in 2011, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association's (NADA) latest Dealer Attitude Survey.

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The survey, conducted twice a year, measures dealer sentiment in three key areas: franchise value, automaker policy decisions that affect the dealership and the automaker's field staff who visit dealerships. Nearly 54 percent of new-car dealers nationwide, representing more 14,700 franchises, responded to the 2011 summer survey.

Hyundai finished in the top overall spot for the third consecutive survey period, with affiliate Kia finishing fourth. Subaru climbed back to second place for its fifth consecutive Top 3 finish. Lexus dropped to the third spot. Mercedes-Benz finished fifth. Toyota and Volkswagen improved to sixth and seventh place, respectively. Porsche, Audi and Cadillac/Honda rounded out the Top 10.

Early next month, thousands of the nation's dealers will have an opportunity to meet face-to-face with top automaker executives at 26 franchise meetings to discuss the outlook for sales, marketing plans and product launches during the 2012 NADA Convention and Expo in Las Vegas.

NADA Chairman Stephen W. Wade, a new-car dealer in Utah and California, joins an industry panel discussion at J.D. Power and Associates' 2012 International Automotive Roundtable in Las Vegas on Friday, Feb. 3. The other panelists are Alan Batey, vice president of General Motors' Chevrolet division; Reid Bigland, head of the Dodge brand; and Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America's executive vice president of national sales. Mike Jackson, CEO and chairman of AutoNation, will moderate the panel discussion. NADA President Phil Brady will provide closing remarks.

Industry keynote speakers at the convention include Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne and NADA's Wade on Saturday, Feb. 4, and incoming NADA Chairman William P. Underriner, a new-car dealer in Montana, on Monday, Feb. 6.

NADA's 95th annual convention runs Feb. 3 to 6 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. For more information, visit www.nadaconventionandexpo.org.

Click here for the full summary of NADA's Dealer Attitude Survey for summer 2011.

Survey Methodology
Nearly 54 percent of new-car dealers, representing more 14,700 franchises nationwide, responded to the 2011 summer survey, which measured dealer sentiment this past July to August. Overall scores were calculated from 12 "core" questions that measured dealer attitude in three key areas. The survey results were presented to more than 325 senior automaker executives representing 30 automotive brands in a series of meetings over a two-month period. 

The NADA Story
The NADA story began in 1917 when 30 auto dealers traveled to the nation's capital to convince Congress not to impose a luxury tax on the automobile. They successfully argued that the automobile is a necessity of American life, not a luxury. From that experience was born the National Automobile Dealers Association. Today, NADA represents nearly 16,000 new-car and -truck dealerships with 32,500 franchises, both domestic and international. For more information, visit www.nada.org.

SOURCE National Automobile Dealers Association