They also fear dealership chains such as AutoNation and CarMax, which, with huge market share, have plenty of control over how cars are sold and whether buyers are happy. Dealers have other concerns. They say the manufacturers dictate every detail, from the size of the showroom to what cars they can sell. But John Bode, one of the GM lobbyists in North Carolina, says the dealers are seeking unfair government protection. They are trying to dictate market conditions by law.
Car dealers wield a lot of clout in state capitols.
It's hard to imagine a political district that doesn't have at least one new car dealership. And dealers are frequent contributors to political campaigns. But automakers have clout, too. They often hire a state's best-known lobbyists to fight for them. Automakers hired so many lobbyists in North Carolina, legislators had to find a larger room to hold meetings.