Automobile dealers are delivering record profitability, but there has never been a time of greater uncertainty for retailers with the onset of electrification and changing franchise models.  DSMA, a leading Automotive Mergers & Acquisitions firm, invites you to a 45-minute discussion on the current trends effecting dealership valuations and buy/sell activity in Chicagoland.  The value of your business has changed in the last 6 to 12 months, so even if you aren’t interested in buying or selling, you need to understand the value of your greatest asset and what’s going to affect its value (positively or negatively) in the coming months and years.

Discussion points will include:

Attendees will return to their businesses with an accurate understanding of the current M&A trends and how they relate to their business.

The Cook County Sheriff's Office is again seeing an increase in crime at area auto dealerships including Commercial Burglary, Motor Vehicle Theft, and even Aggravated Unlawful Restraint.

As we head into fall, the office's interagency team would like the opportunity to meet with CATA members to discuss security best practices and solicit your feedback and concerns.

Speakers will include personnel from the Cook County Sheriff’s Vehicular Violence Suppression Team, CPD’s Chicago Major Auto Theft Investigations, Secretary of State Police, Illinois State Police and select suburban task force experts.

Please attend this important meeting.  Working together we can try to stem this surge of crime targeting new-car dealers.

CATA is hosting RMP’s Tax, Titling & Registration Seminar consisting of the most current and accurate SOS (Secretary of State) and DOR (Department of Revenue) processes. This informative two hour seminar consists of everything from license and titling basics all the way to more advanced deal processing. Topics include properly titling, registering and remitting taxes to remain compliant with SOS and DOR, adjusting any corrections on completed ERT applications and tips on streamlining your dealership tax, title and registration processes.

•     SOS and DOR compliance
•     Forms and necessary supporting documents
•     ERT correction requests
•     Tax forms and calculations
•     Full Titles and Vehicle Services
•     Third party trades, trades by heirs or by Small Estate Affidavit
•     Special plates

Tiffany Spivey and Ali Poiliot from Vitu along with Bill Huber, director of training and vehicle services at the Illinois Secretary of State, will be available to answer any questions during and after the seminar. Lunch and copies of the REG 101 — Introduction to Tax, Titling & Registration and REG 201 — Specialized Tax, Titling & Registration Transactions books are provided.

CATA is hosting RMP’s Tax, Titling & Registration Seminar consisting of the most current and accurate SOS (Secretary of State) and DOR (Department of Revenue) processes. This informative two hour seminar consists of everything from license and titling basics all the way to more advanced deal processing. Topics include properly titling, registering and remitting taxes to remain compliant with SOS and DOR, adjusting any corrections on completed ERT applications and tips on streamlining your dealership tax, title and registration processes.

•     SOS and DOR compliance
•     Forms and necessary supporting documents
•     ERT correction requests
•     Tax forms and calculations
•     Full Titles and Vehicle Services
•     Third party trades, trades by heirs or by Small Estate Affidavit
•     Special plates

Tiffany Spivey and Ali Poiliot from Vitu along with Bill Huber, director of training and vehicle services at the Illinois Secretary of State, will be available to answer any questions during and after the seminar. Lunch and copies of the REG 101 — Introduction to Tax, Titling & Registration and REG 201 — Specialized Tax, Titling & Registration Transactions books are provided.

It's been tough to keep up with the fluctuating markets these days but there’s a plan to ensure your dealership remains recession-proof. There are four key areas where your used car department needs to have the right focus: people, inventory, processes, and opportunities. Having the right mixture of these components will help you boost sales and be profitable in any market. This workshop is about recession-proofing your operations by focusing on sharpening those areas. There is a proven formula for success in used car operations even in the face of adversity. But it’s up to you to understand the situation, assess the potential challenges, secure the right inventory, and leverage opportunities to meet your goals.

What you will take away:

• An understanding of how a retail-first mentality is driven by people with urgency and proficiency
• A game plan for acquiring more of the right inventory based on a formula of facts, insights, and your own DNA
• A direction for how to improve processes in conjunction with leveraging quality technology solutions
• How to generate more opportunities for your dealership to reach operational efficiency

Lunch will be provided.

Key Take Aways:

Please plan to attend this interactive and informative program.  All Sales team members are encouraged to participate.

A continental breakfast will be available starting at 9am.  

The Chicago Automobile Trade Association is excited to present its first-ever EV driving and education event -- Chicago Drives Electric!  

This event is designed to help dealers quickly get up to speed for the coming wave of battery-powered electric vehicles. Everything from EV-charger installation to an in-depth look at why new-car dealers are key to the transition from ICE- to electric-powered vehicles. 

Chicago Drives Electric will feature informative seminars for dealership personnel, advice from experts about installing and applying for credit for EV chargers, and hands on demonstrations and evaluation drives of the latest electrified vehicles. 

The program begins at 9 AM and runs through a free lunch provided at Noon. From sales people to upper management, all dealer personnel are welcome.