Fondren and other trade organization representatives met with local car dealers in Abilene this week. They are particularly anxious to change the statutes to regulate our business. A public misperception may be the driving force behind any new laws, along with dot-com political action dollars, he said. All of the indicators are, of course, that dealers do bring great value to the process, and they are going to be fine. The longtime TADA executive and former member of the Texas House said local dealers need to tout the state and local taxes they pay, the civic and charitable contributions they make and the other economic consequences their retail business generates.
Dealers support the economy to a greater extent than other retailers.
A decade ago, Fondren said, the Legislature passed a law to keep dealers in one town from selling brokered cars in another. In other words, a broker in Dallas cannot try to sell cars in Abilene knowing that another dealer here has the vehicle and can provide service. It just deteriorates the whole system. They have no investment in the community. Of the increase, only 4 percent has gone to the dealers' bottom line.