Pub. 55 2014-2015 Issue 4

15 SUMMER 2015 participating in a healthy competitive free enterprise system called the Texas Franchise System. Our franchise system works for 37 other brands in Texas from Chevrolet to BMW to Rolls Royce. Even Pagani - who sells only 4 of their $2M cars a year has dealers. While the Tesla technology is interesting and commendable, I really like my Chevy Volt with both gas and electric capacity. We all know, someone is always going to build a better mouse trap. Always have, always will. Government should not be in a position of trying to pick the winners and losers in this mouse trap game. Only a very small number of Texans can afford a $103,000 car. In fact, sadly for Tesla, that number is dwindling nationwide and in Texas, as Tesla is the only manufacturer who sold less cars in 2014 in the U.S. than they did in 2013. Dealers understand that, for most Texans, an automobile is the second largest purchase they will ever make. It is not like buying a new phone or pair of shoes. Consumers rely on dealers throughout the purchase and ownership experience. Just this month, the Detroit News published findings that in states where strong franchise laws exist, consumers save an average of $500 per vehicle. I sure wish I did not have 21 other competing Chevrolet dealers in Houston. Life would be easier and profits would be bigger! A result of a vibrant franchise system is the desire, need, and pride that drives a dealer to be a better community partner. Auto dealers and their employees give back over $50 million to their communities... Not thru taxes, but because of pride in their communities. It’s who we are!! Our law should not be changed merely because one single manufacturer doesn’t want to play by the rules. And they preserve the order of an industry that represents 18% of the state’s retail sales, and an industry that employs over 91,000 Texans in jobs that can’t be transported out of Texas and that are good paying, middle class, and upwardly mobile jobs. You ask, Why not let the challenge to this system stand...be- cause it’s a slippery slope and you can’t get toothpaste back in the tube. The system you created works for Texans. It works for Texas!! Why shouldn’t auto manufacturers be allowed to sell directly to consumers when so many industries have moved in that direction? The answer is simple; what Texas stands to lose is far greater than what it would possibly gain in return. It’s very simple.... 91,000 hard-working Texans spread over 284 cities in 1,257 franchised dealerships in Texas versus one man and 75 employees. A franchise system second to none in the nation, dealers who are the perfect economic engine for Texas and Texans, or a one man, one California corporation, a few hourly employees, and his own monopoly... Not rocket science at all.  ©2015 Auto/Mate, Inc. All rights reserved. A DMS Large Enough to Serve, Small Enough to Care. Start to see the value in your DMS again. Visit us at www.automate.com . blog.automate.com @AutoMateDMS 877.805.9446 Auto/Mate DMS converts over 82% of its customers from CDK Global ® (formerly ADP ® ) and Reynolds & Reynolds ® , and we retain 99.7% of them without contracts. Still think Auto/Mate DMS isn’t big enough to handle your dealership? 1,100 ROOFTOPS 30,000 USERS 187 DEALER GROUPS