Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 34

Cover
Story

Interview with

2018 NADA
CHAIRMAN
Wes Lutz, Owner, Extreme
Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram

N

ADA Chairman Wes Lutz,
owner of Extreme ChryslerDodge-Jeep-Ram, has been
in the retail-auto industry for
more than four decades. Prior to his
selection as NADA chairman, Lutz
was 2017 vice chairman and before
that led the organization's regulatory aﬀairs committee. He has been
a Chrysler dealer since 1976, and
is a past president of the Michigan
Automobile Dealers Association, as
well as a Time Dealer of the Year
nominee for the state. Earlier, he
had served on NADA's board from
2001 to 2004.
In the following interview, Lutz
discusses what's planned for his
tenure as 2018 NADA chairman. He
also shares his considerable insights
into the challenges and opportunities facing dealers this year and the
years ahead. As a member of NADA's regulatory aﬀairs committee,
Lutz talks about recent regulatory
battles fought. And as the organization's former I.T. chairman, he also
discusses how dealerships can best

34

MARCH 2018

utilize technology to help add value
to consumers and oﬀers thoughts on
upcoming industry changes, from
ride sharing to electric vehicles. Lutz
is clearly proud to be at the helm.

WES, CONGRATULATIONS
ON BEING NAMED CHAIRMAN OF NADA FOR 2018.
RECENTLY YOU SERVED AS
NADA VICE CHAIRMAN, AND
BEFORE THAT YOU WERE
ON THE BOARD FROM 2001
TO 2004. WHAT WILL BE THE
FOCUS OF YOUR YEAR AS
CHAIRMAN?

I will work with the NADA board
members and staﬀ to help navigate
the challenges we're going to see
this year. There is a lot of uncertainty in the market, and there are
a lot of new things on the horizon
from autonomous vehicles, electriﬁcation and ride sharing. Those are
all issues that have gained traction
over the last couple of years. They're
likely going to play a big role in
how the dealer franchise system
works moving forward. They may

D I G I TA L D E A L E R . C O M

even impact the number of vehicles
we sell and to whom we sell them.
I'm excited about being one of the
dealers who gets to ﬁgure out how
all that is going to play out.

YOU ARE ALSO A PAST
PRESIDENT OF THE MICHIGAN AUTOMOBILE DEALERS
ASSOCIATION, AND WERE
SELECTED AS A TIME DEALER OF THE YEAR NOMINEE
FOR THE STATE OF MICHIGAN
(2009). WHAT SPECIFIC CHALLENGES DO YOU SEE AHEAD
FOR FRANCHISED NEW-CAR
DEALERSHIPS AND HOW DO
YOU SEE NADA HELPING ITS
MEMBERS MEET THOSE CHALLENGES?

That's an interesting question,
because when I was on the board
the ﬁrst time in 2001, I actually
came in as the chairman of the I.T.
committee. The challenges then
with I.T. are very similar to what we
have now with autonomous vehicles
and ride sharing. I remember the
disruptive elements to our business

http://www.DIGITALDEALER.COM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Digital Dealer - March 2018

Digital Dealer - March 2018
Contents
What Are You Offended By Today, and What’s It Costing You?
How you Receive and Utilize Data in This Marketplace Determines Your Success
A Mystery Shop for a Major National OEM
It Takes Two: Who is Buying All of These Dealerships?
3 Fundamentals to Push Your New Vehicle Performance, Profitability
Mastering ‘Experiential’ Marketing!
Digital Dealer 24 Conference & Expo Speaker Highlights
Wes Lutz, Owner Extreme Chrysler- Dodge-Jeep-Ram
If You Are Losing Your Donkey – Check This
Big Data Busted 3: How Large Auto Groups Can Win With Better Data
From Self-Driving to Personal Robot: 5 Ways the Car of the Future Will Change Your Life
Facebook Betting Big on Auto: Tailored Solutions to Industry Challenges
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - CT1
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - CT2
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - Digital Dealer - March 2018
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - Cover2
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - Contents
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 2
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 3
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 4
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 5
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - What Are You Offended By Today, and What’s It Costing You?
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 7
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - How you Receive and Utilize Data in This Marketplace Determines Your Success
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 9
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 10
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 11
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - A Mystery Shop for a Major National OEM
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 13
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 14
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 15
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - It Takes Two: Who is Buying All of These Dealerships?
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 17
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 18
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 19
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 20
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 21
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 3 Fundamentals to Push Your New Vehicle Performance, Profitability
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 23
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - Mastering ‘Experiential’ Marketing!
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 25
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 26
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 27
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - Digital Dealer 24 Conference & Expo Speaker Highlights
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 29
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 30
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 31
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 32
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 33
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - Wes Lutz, Owner Extreme Chrysler- Dodge-Jeep-Ram
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 35
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 36
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 37
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 38
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 39
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - If You Are Losing Your Donkey – Check This
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 41
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 42
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 43
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - Big Data Busted 3: How Large Auto Groups Can Win With Better Data
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 45
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - From Self-Driving to Personal Robot: 5 Ways the Car of the Future Will Change Your Life
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - 47
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - Facebook Betting Big on Auto: Tailored Solutions to Industry Challenges
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - Cover3
Digital Dealer - March 2018 - Cover4
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