UCN
Used Car News
usedcarnews
12/14/2020
2020 Movers & Shakers
karglobal.com
IN THIS ISSUE: • YEAR IN REVIEW
• MILESTONES
Rush - Dated Material
• RELIABILITY
LOU TEDESCHI
TONY LONG
STEVE JORDAN
The NIADA president was part of the team that hired a new NIADA chief executive with a goal to grow membership and work with state IADAs. Tedeschi wants to help dealers rebuild, boost profit centers, and use NIADA programs to serve everyday dealer members.
The IARA executive’s efforts to provide education through an online conference format led to the choice of Pathable as the platform for IARA’s Virtual Summer Roundtable event. The bet paid off with a smooth, successful and well-reviewed online conference.
After nearly a decade at the helm of NIADA, Jordan left to become executive vice president of dealer sales at KAR Global. Jordan brings to KAR his experience working with dealers at NIADA, as well as his own past experience as a dealer.
Digital sales and wholesaling has been a part of the used-car industry for years. But the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 made digital tools essential to surviving and succeeding in the business. In the early weeks of the pandemic, dealers and auctions were forced
to shift focus, as in-person business was not always allowed. Dealers who were used to working deals in the showroom were forced to go online, using everything from digital marketing to online applications and closings. Visits to dealerships and auctions looked different as well, as social
distancing, plexiglass and hand sanitizing stations became regular parts of the business. Auctions saw online bidding and sales skyrocket while major chain auctions focused almost solely on online sales. When the coronavirus begins to fade, it looks like digital business will remain.
In early March, the industry was geared up for the Conference of Automotive Remarketing. Then COVID-19 hit, the show was canceled and the entire trade show and convention schedule was turned upside down. Conventions and conferences were delayed, reformatted to online
formats or canceled altogether. It made for a challenging year for trade associations and vendors, both of whom rely on these events for their bottom line. It was especially difficult for vendors who use in-person trade shows to build rapport, demonstrate their products and answer dealers’ ques-
tions face-to-face. In the same way, it was more challenging for panelists and speakers to present information without a live in-person audience. The National Auto Auction Association even took a pass on 2020, hoping for a more traditional event next year.
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