Oversight Committee Investigates FTC Dealer Rule; Congress Avoids Government Shutdown, Adjourns
This week the House Oversight Committee announced it would investigate new rules regulating car dealerships by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Committee Chairman Jamers Comer (R-Ky.) has requested the FTC turn over documents and answer questions by Nov. 30. In June of last year, the FTC proposed the new rules regulating perceived issues in the car buying experience which include banning fees and bait-and-switch advertising tactics and requiring dealers to make key disclosures to consumers, including providing a true "offering price" and optional add-on fees. Auto dealers have strongly disagreed with the FTC’s description and assumptions about the car buying process.
Government Shutdown
Also this week Congress averted a shutdown with a few days to spare by passing a short term funding bill with a two-tiered deadline that will keep the many government programs running until Jan.19, and others until Feb. 2. Both the House and Senate have now adjourned until after the Thanksgiving holiday.
EPA Tailpipe Emissions Rule
AIADA thanks those dealers and dealership employees that reached out to their legislators and urged them to sign the letter led by Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI) to congressional leaders on the proposed EPA Tailpipe Emissions Rule. The letter has closed, but it’s not too late to let Congress know how the proposed rule will negatively impact dealerships and consumers:
Quote of the Week
"[The FTC rule] appears to rest on thin analysis and unreliable data and suffers from several procedural flaws, including violations of FTC regulations requiring advanced notice of proposed rulemaking."
— Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), Chairman, House Oversight Committee (Automotive News)
ICYMI
In case you missed it, the U.S. Treasury Department and IRS has opened registration for car dealers to receive direct payments for transferred electric vehicle tax credits when the option becomes available to consumers next year. Dealers must be registered via the new website — called IRS Energy Credits Online — for their customers to claim or transfer federal tax credits and use those funds as a down payment for eligible new- and used-EV purchases.
Friday Feel Good
Here is just one recent example of how dealers are doing good:
Griffin-Spalding County School District’s Teacher of the Year was awarded a one-year lease on the Nissan Rogue courtesy of Cronic Automotive Group, the largest car dealership in Griffin, Georgia. “This is a unique way to recognize our county’s Teacher of the Year, and we are thrilled to be a part of it,” said Wanda Cronic Howell, president of Cronic Automotive Group. “I hope the award not only is enjoyed by this year’s winner, but that it generates excitement among teachers across the county in the future.”
We want to hear more about how you are supporting your local community — tweet us at @AIADA_News and use the hashtag #DealersDoGood.
You Auto Know will be on hiatus next week in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. We’ll be back the week of Nove. 27 with all of the news from Washington that You Auto Know about.
