CATA News

In a 31-page opinion issued on May 6, 2024, by U.S. District Judge John J. Tharp, Jr., the Federal District Court dismissed Volkswagen's challenge to the recently enacted warranty provisions in the Illinois Motor Vehicle Franchise Act. This is fabulous news for all Illinois dealers. Our legal counsel continues to  review each of the findings regarding the multiple claims made by Volkswagen. We will share additional updates as we receive them, but at least wanted to share this great news with CATA dealer members.

• Cost Advisor (Credit Card Processing) – Bill Brudenell, bill@costadvisor.us
• ComEd (Electricity) – Lisa Mannella, lisa.mannella@comed.com
• EAI Design (Building Design and Construction) – Nick Randazzo, nr@eanthonyinc.com
• Grant Merchant Services (Credit Card Processing) – Joe Campagna, joe@grantmerchantservices.com
• Hireology (Staffing and Employee Retention) – Tiffany Czerwinski, tczerwinski@hireology.com

Hilb Group is the go-to partner for CATA business owners who need help controlling costs and navigating the complex world of healthcare and human capital management.

Specializing in the auto dealership business for over 30 years and serving more than 1500 dealerships, Hilb Group knows the industry and can help you pay for and manage employee benefits more efficiently. Hilb Group’s proven process collaborates with you every step of the way to develop a customized strategy that fits your business’ unique needs. They were built by dealers, for dealers to ease the administrative burden of employee benefits and to create pathways for you to decrease healthcare costs while simultaneously improving benefits for your employees.

Contact Colin Royster at croyster@integrumadvisors.com or (540) 526-7074 today to get started on potentially lowering your employee benefits costs by up to 35%. Click here (link to document) to find out what sets Hilb Group apart from other healthcare vendors.

Summer is right around the corner, and that means so is BBQ for the Troops!

This year, we have new ways for you to participate and we look forward to another summer of community fundraising festivities across the Chicagoland area.

More than a decade ago, the CATA and area new-car dealers partnered with the USO to create the Barbecue for the Troops campaign to raise money for our local troops and their families. What started as a few hot dogs and tin can has now grown into an annual festival which brings in thousands of dollars. In fact, the program’s lifetime total is over $1.1 million raised for USO!

As a participating dealer, the CATA will provide you with a starter kit of marketing materials. The CATA also runs an area-wide marketing and advertising campaign which includes a listing of all participating dealers and is an excellent opportunity for media exposure.

The 2023 event had 85 participating new-car dealers who hosted events that ranged from online fundraisers, to full-blown community summer festivals that included 21 gun salute, live music, bouncy houses, and, of course, a delicious barbecue meal. We look forward to growing the participation this year.

To participate, select one or more of the following options to raise money for the USO:

1. Host a BBQ Event: As in previous years, you can host a BBQ event at your dealership on Saturday, July 13 which will be advertised across the market. These events can range in size from lunch with customers to full-blown community festivals.
2. NEW! Test Drives for Donations: Drive traffic to your dealership by inviting your community to come and take a test drive at your dealership. For every test drive in the month of July, your dealership will make a donation to the USO. The CATA suggests a minimum of $10 per test drive.
3. Make a Donation: If you’re unable to participate in one of the activations in July, you can still make an impact! You can make a one-time donation to the USO and be listed as a BBQ for the Troops donor on DriveChicago.com.

As we know, dealers have deep roots in their communities and by participating in the Barbecue for the Troops program, dealers can further connect with their customers and contribute to a great cause.

Sign Up Now!

If you have any questions, please contact Hayley Feichter or Jim OBrill.

Help your customers take the next step in being an EV owner! ComEd customers may qualify for a rebate of up to $3,750* towards the purchase and home installation of a smart Level 2 charger. Whether they already drive an EV, or are considering one soon, it’s good for them to know that Level 2 chargers deliver charge faster and can be more energy efficient.

Business and public sector customers looking to go electric with their fleet vehicles, can save with vehicle and infrastructure rebates that are in addition to state and federal incentives.

ComEd offers rebates and free tools, including a Fleet Electrification toolkit and Residential EV Toolkit to help customers explore savings and options and  make informed decisions during their purchase journey.

Learn more at www.ComEd.com/CleanEnergy.

Today is the last day to take advantage of the lowest registration pricing for the annual golf outing. Register by Friday to save.

Join in the fun on Tuesday, June 11 to network with fellow dealer and allied members, hear association updates at the annual meeting, and enjoy a beautiful summer day on the course.  As in the past, the outing will include several contests throughout the course for the chance to win cash prizes. Contests include straightest drive, longest putt, closest to the pin, hole-in-one and more. One lucky golfer even has the chance to win the $10,000 putting contest!

We will kick off the day with a coffee and networking reception, followed by the annual meeting and lunch. After golfing concludes, we will gather back together for a 19th hole Happy Hour.

Schedule of Events

• 10:00 a.m. - Coffee & Networking Reception
• 11:00 a.m. - Lunch & CATA Annual Meeting
• 12:00 p.m. - Shotgun Start
• 5:00 p.m. - 19th Hole Happy Hour & Raffle Drawing

Your registration will include two raffle tickets to enter to win a variety of raffle prizes donated by our sponsors. Additional raffle tickets will be available for purchase onsite.

Dealer member registration is $100 per golfer. There is an additional $30 charge if you wish to golf on the Ravines course. You can note foursome preferences during the registration process. Lunch-only tickets are also available for $40.

For general registration questions, please contact the CATA at 630-495-2282.

Learn More & Register

[From the NADA] The FTC Safeguards Rule contains a new requirement that requires dealers to notify the FTC if certain security events that could affect consumer data occur in dealer systems or third-party systems containing dealer data. NADA has updated its Driven Guide, A Dealer Guide to the FTC Safeguards Rule (L43), to include details about the new requirements.

On October 27, 2024, the FTC announced a final rule amending its Safeguards Rule that will require non-banking financial institutions, such as dealers, to report certain data breaches and other security events, which they refer to as “notification events.” This means that dealers and others will be required to notify the FTC, which will post the reports on a publicly available website.

The trigger for filing a report is what is called a “notification event,” which is defined as “[t]he acquisition of unencrypted customer information without the authorization of the individual to which the information pertains.” This likely applies to data breaches or other security events that compromise unencrypted consumer data, but unfortunately, the exact scope of this definition is somewhat unclear.

If a notification event occurs that affects the unencrypted information of 500 or more consumers, then it must be reported to the FTC as soon as possible and no later than 30 days after discovered. Notice to the FTC must be provided electronically through a forthcoming form located on the FTC’s website. Dealers may need to report notification events that occur in dealer-controlled systems as well as those that occur at a vendor if it affects that dealer’s customer data.

This new reporting obligation begins on May 12, 2024. Dealers should review NADA’s previous Safeguards guidance and consult the newly updated Driven Guide, A Dealer Guide to the FTC Safeguards Rule (L43), before the May 12 compliance deadline. Dealers should also work with their IT professionals and counsel to understand and prepare for the new requirements, and should update their incident response plans and information security programs accordingly.

When: Wednesday, May 15 – 1:30 p.m.

On April 23, 2024 the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released the highly anticipated final rule defining Overtime Exemption requirements, including guaranteed salary requirements, for the White-Collar Exemptions: Executive, Administrative, Professional, and Highly Compensated. While the changes to the White Collar Exemptions may not directly impact your dealership, we often find dealers are unaware of other partial Automotive exemptions and the compliance implications those bring forth within the industry.

Additionally, on the same day of the DOL announcement, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) approved a final rule banning most new noncompete clauses in employment contracts—a sweeping change affecting millions of workers.

The rule also makes all existing noncompete agreements except for those covering senior executives unenforceable and requires employers provide notice to current and former workers that their noncompete clauses are no longer in effect.

So, are you ready? Join CATA and our human resource partner, Jamie Hasty, Vice President at SESCO Management Consultants, to cover important and timely updates to include:

• Changes to the White Collar Exemptions and impact they may have on your dealership
• Discuss partial exemptions from overtime for automotive industry positions and best practices for application of those exemptions.
• Review commons traps and misconceptions as it pertains to Wage and Hour compliance—your dealership’s number one (1) financial liability!
• Review the FTC ban and how it may impact your non-compete agreements in place for senior positions.

Register Today!

In light of the recent weather conditions, the CATA would like to remind you of the services provided by International Fleet Solutions (IFS), a valued CATA Approved Partner. Specializing in paintless dent repair, IFS offers an efficient solution to hail damage, ensuring that vehicles are restored to pre-damage state with speed and precision.

As a local company with national reach, IFS collaborates with dealerships across the country to address the aftermath of hail events promptly. Their extensive experience in the industry allows them to employ only the most skilled technicians, project managers, and quality control experts, guaranteeing top-notch results and exceptional workmanship.

For those affected by hail damage, the CATA encourages you to reach out to Ron Martin at (612) 801-0174 or Tracy Thrall at (815) 341-0747 for support.

When: Tuesday, May 21 – 9:30 a.m.

When: As part of a first of its kind electrification investment in Illinois, ComEd launched nearly $90 million in funding available for business and public sector customers to apply for rebates which are used to help cover the upfront costs of electrifying their fleets and to prime sites for the addition of EV charging infrastructure. More than half of the rebate funding is reserved to help boost EV investment in equity-eligible communities, and with higher levels of rebates reserved for customers located in, driving, or doing at least 50% of its business in low-income and equity-eligible communities.

The program is offering large amounts of funding to cover the costs of EV fleet purchases, which are critical for helping meet climate targets and improving air quality across northern Illinois communities. Rebates range from $5,000-$180,000 depending on the type of vehicle.

The program additionally offers rebates to upgrade make-ready infrastructure to prepare for Level 2 chargers and/or Direct Current Fast Chargers. ComEd can cover up to $8,000 per port for L2 chargers (with a 10-port maximum) or up to $1,000* per kW on Direct Current Fast Chargers (DCFCs) with a minimum of 50kW (maximum rebate of $500,000.)

Eligible customers include:

• Dealerships
• Multi-family buildings with a business account
• Mass transit agencies
• School districts (K-12 buses)
• Municipal/governments
• Businesses

Join CATA and the ComEd team for a webinar on May 21, 2024 as we share how our new rebates can help your dealership drive EV / EV charger sales and help you recoup the costs of adding EV chargers at your dealership.

Register Today!