AIADA Says Tariffs Would Negatively Impact Dealers

Cody Lusk, the President and CEO of the American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA),  testified that tariffs would negatively impact dealers, and their customers, and in support of the international auto retail industry during the U.S. Commerce Department’s 232 National Security Investigation Hearing. 

His comments focused on the 577,000 jobs provided by America’s 9,600 international nameplate auto dealers in their communities, the vehicles they sell to consumers, and how they would be negatively impacted by new vehicle tariffs.

“AIADA respectfully disagrees with the position that imported autos and auto parts are being brought into the United States in such quantities or under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security,” said AIADA President and CEO Cody Lusk. “AIADA and its 9,600 American auto dealers strongly support a pro-growth economic agenda, and believe it can be accomplished with a positive trade message, not the threat of tariffs. Trade keeps our economy open, dynamic, and competitive, and helps ensure that America continues to be the best place in the world to do business.”

Consider the  numbers: America’s 9,600 international nameplate auto franchises, many of which are family-owned businesses, employ more than 577,000 Americans, resulting in a payroll of $32 billion and an additional 527,000 indirect jobs. Dealers represent the retail side of an international auto industry that has invested $75 billion in U.S. operations and more than doubled its production in the U.S. over the past 15 years.

In 2016, 5.5 million vehicles were built by Americans at these factories. While most of these vehicles were sold to American consumers, 925,000 of them were exported to over 140 countries.

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