New Car Dealers Ride the 'Momentum' into Orlando for NADA Convention

NADA hosts 1,500 international dealers from 36 countries

ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. economy is gaining momentum and new-car and -truck sales are leading the way. In fact, "Momentum" is the theme of the 96^th annual National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention and Expo in Orlando, which runs Feb. 8-11.

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More than 21,000 new-car dealers, auto industry executives and exhibitors from across the globe are expected to attend the convention this weekend, which will be held in the West Building of the Orange County Convention Center. NADA is hosting nearly 1,500 international dealers from 36 countries.

Keynote speakers include John Krafcik, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America; NADA Chairman Bill Underriner; inspirational speaker Mark Kelly, space shuttle commander of Endeavour's final mission and husband of former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords; incoming NADA Chairman David Westcott; and former Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates.

For the second consecutive year, the American Truck Dealers (ATD) Convention and Expo will run concurrently with NADA.

Considered as the "automotive industry event of the year," the NADA convention includes 26 dealer franchise meetings, more than 500 companies exhibiting on the expo floor, and between the two conventions, more than 158 workshop sessions covering 60 topics offered in eight time slots.

Auto industry consultant Glenn Mercer will release the findings of NADA's Phase 2 study on factory-mandated dealership renovation programs, which require new-car dealers to collectively invest billions of dollars. The Phase 2 study analyzes the return-on-investment of these programs as well as how dealerships of the future will look and function.

Paul Taylor, NADA chief economist, and Jonathan Banks, executive automotive analyst with the NADA Used Car Guide, will highlight new- and used-vehicle market trends for 2013. Click here for the full press conference schedule.

For more information, visit www.nadaconventionandexpo.org.

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 dealers, with 32,500 franchises, both domestic and international. For more information, visit www.nada.org. Follow NADA on Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE National Automobile Dealers Association