THE FRONT ROW
You’re Invited! WSIADA Convention in Seattle Let’s Shape the Future Together!
Consumer Concerns Dominated by Affordability and Tariff Uncertainty: CarGurus Mid-Year Report
From Washington to the Strip: Dealers Roll the Dice at NIADA 2025
PLUS:
• Selling Used EVs Not a Lost Cause
• Navigating Used Car Dealer Auctions
• Facts: Motorcycle Highlights in the U.S.
• Is Your Dealership Maximizing its Wealth-Building Strategy?
Join Us This August!
Support our local Boys & Girls Club and help keep kids off the streets. Be part of our fundraising efforts to make a lasting impact in our community.
SAVE THESE SEPTEMBER DATES ! September 9th September 17th
THE FRONT ROW
The official magazine of the WASHINGTON STATE Independent Auto Dealers Association 707 Auburn Way South Auburn, WA 98002
T: 253-735-0267 staff@wsiada.com | WSIADA.COM
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Badie Darwazeh, Board President Seattle Auto Haus | President@wsiada.com
Randy Fletcher, Board Vice-President In-N-Out Auto Sales | VPresident@wsiada.com
Emil Scarsella, Board Treasurer Town & Country Auto Sales | Treasurer@wsiada.com
J.T. Curry, Board Secretary Motors Northwest | Secretary@wsiada.com
Wasim Azzam, Chairman of the Board
All Right Auto Sales | Chairman@wsiada.com
CHAPTER PRESIDENTS
Andrew Drager – North Cascade Drager’s International | NoCascade@wsiada.com
Denis Costin – North Sound Independent Motors | NoSound@wsiada.com
Dominic Adams – South Sound
Gene Pankey Motor Co. | SoSound@wsiada.com
Chuck Lamb – Vancouver
Triple C Auto Broker | Vancouver@wsiada.com
Vacant Position – Yakima Yakima@wsiada.com
Vacant Position – Tri-Cities Tri-Cities@wsiada.com
Vacant Position – Spokane Spokane@wsiada.com
WSIADA STAFF
Rick Olson, Director of Operations
Mila Froman, Membership Manager
Lane Schulz, Retail Associate
Juana Plata, Bookkeeper
Editor
Rick Olson, WSIADA Director of Operations
Production & Design
Professional Mojo
Copyright 2025 | WSIADA
4 YOU’RE INVITED TO THE 2025 WSIADA CONVENTION: LET’S SHAPE THE FUTURE TOGETHER!
WSIADA events bring together hundreds of the brightest independent automobile dealers with renowned speakers to accelerate business success and give back to the communities in which we live. Join us at this year’s biggest gathering!
6 CONSUMER CONCERNS DOMINATED BY AFFORDABILITY AND TARIFF UNCERTAINTY: CARGURUS MID-YEAR REPORT
In the first half of 2025, tariffs dramatically reshaped the U.S. auto market by triggering a temporary sales surge, straining affordable inventory, fueling demand for used and hybrid vehicles, and heightening affordability challenges amid economic uncertainty and high interest rates.
8 FROM WASHINGTON TO THE STRIP: DEALERS ROLL THE DICE AT NIADA 2025 WSIADA hit the road in June to attend the National IADA Convention in Vegas. Check out the highlights!
10 NEW STUDY REVEALS EMERGING RV BUYERS ARE YOUNGER, MORE DIVERSE, AND READY TO HIT THE ROAD
A new wave of younger, more diverse, and digitally driven consumers are reshaping the RV market, with 16.9 million Americans expressing strong interest in buying an RV within the next five years.
12 SELLING USED EVS NOT A LOST CAUSE
Ride-share drivers are snapping up used Teslas, and electrified CPO sales are surging.
14 UNLOCKING SUCCESS: NAVIGATING THE WORLD OF USED CAR DEALER AUCTIONS
Uncover the insider secrets to success in the world of used car dealer auctions.
18 THE FACTS: MOTORCYCLE HIGHLIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES
18 ISYOURDEALERSHIPMAXIMIZING LIMITED WARRANTIES AS PART OF A WEALTH-BUILDING STRATEGY?
Dealerships can turn limited warranties from a basic sales tool into a powerful wealth-building strategy by integrating them into reinsurance or dealer-owned warranty company programs, generating long-term financial growth while enhancing customer value and loyalty.
20 WELCOME OUR NEWEST AND RECENTLY RENEWED MEMBERS
21 READ & RESPOND QUIZ
