In This Issue
- WANADA’s ADEI Program Hosts Kickoff Event for Spring Students
- OSHA Updates COVID-19 Workplace Guidance
- NADA Show 2021 Less Than a Week Away
- Virginia LEV/ZEV Legislation Passes House of Delegates
- Electric Co-Op Group Seeks Dealer Partners in EV Education
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Last month, new enrollees in WANADA’s Automobile Dealer Education Institute participated in an outdoor, socially-distanced kickoff event at Montgomery College in Rockville. Even amidst a global pandemic, registrations for ADEI have never been higher, and there was actually a wait list for applicants heading into this year.
Thanks to the great support from the Montgomery County Automotive Trades Foundation and Northern Virginia Community College, ADEI students have still been able to receive in-person training at the auto technician centers on the campuses of NOVA and Montgomery College.
WANADA would like to thank the numerous dealers who have supported the program, through sponsoring students and also by making charitable contributions to ADEI, which is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Donations to ADEI are tax-deductible, and they help defray some of WANADA’s costs associated with hosting the program, including providing students with a high-quality set of tools, educational materials, and more, as they work diligently to grow into reliable, high-quality service technicians at dealerships across the region. Read More
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Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration was updating workplace guidance related to COVID-19, as part of a directive from President Biden to provide clearer information to prevent viral spread in the workplace.
Please view the updated OSHA guidance at this link. At this time, there are not any current penalties or enforcement mechanisms associated with this guidance, though many of the recommendations do broadly echo the robust workplace protection regulations in effect in Virginia and the largest suburban counties in Maryland. Virginia’s final standard for COVID-19 protection in the workplace, which was launched on an emergency basis back in July, took permanent effect last month.
As vaccinations continue rolling out across the region, and eventually make their way to workers in essential transportation jobs like auto dealership employees, OSHA notes that these guidelines will change. WANADA will continue updating our members on the latest health and safety guidelines as they change to reflect the latest status of the pandemic.
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The all-virtual 2021 NADA Show kicks off next Tuesday, Feb. 9, and there are opportunities not just for networking, or to learn from more than 60 different seminars and breakout sessions, but to win prizes as well. NADA show attendees can win one of several prizes, either for dropping off the most virtual business cards with exhibitors, attending the most show sessions, or viewing the largest amount of exhibitor-provided content.
Click here for more information about the contest, and to learn about the prizes up for grabs.
If you’re interested in the show, but not sure if it’s right for you, please join one of the two complimentary NADA Show orientation webinars, being held on Feb. 4 at 3 p.m. ET and Feb. 5 at 1 p.m. ET. No registration is required – simply click the Zoom link in the prior sentence that corresponds to each session at the time of the event. And if you’re signed up but unsure how the show platform will work, the orientation sessions will guide you through everything you need to get the most out of your NADA Show experience.
While the show begins next Tuesday, there will be special pre-show events for registrants each day from Feb. 4 through Feb. 8. Please click here to learn more about pricing, and to sign up for this great event. WANADA encourages our member dealers to participate in this valuable event, and we thank our friends at NADA for their hard work in putting together a robust, informative show even amidst a pandemic.
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HB 1965, sponsored by Del. Lamont Bagby (D-Richmond), now heads to the Senate, where it likely has enough votes to pass but faces the enemy of time (particularly if the Senate amends it), as the legislature is currently set to adjourn on February 27.
Del. Bagby’s bill, as passed by the House, would require Virginia to adopt both California’s low-emission vehicle (LEV) program and their zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) program no earlier than Jan. 1, 2024, and no later than 2025. The ZEV regulation requires that a certain percentage of vehicles sold in the state be electric, a number to be determined by the State Air Pollution Control Board.
Please click here to view VADA’s outline of Del. Bagby’s legislation and associated bills, including HB1979, introduced by Del. David Reid (D-Ashburn), which passed an initial committee vote this week, and HB2282, led by Del. Rip Sullivan (D-Arlington), which passed the House in January. VADA’s document outlines the ways that these bills are designed to create robust purchase incentives to make EVs more accessible for Virginia consumers.
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Does your dealership sell electric vehicles? D+R International, a WANADA Kindred Line Member, is working on behalf of 11 distribution electric cooperatives in Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware to identify local EV dealerships to publicize on the distribution cooperatives’ websites. Combined, the electric cooperatives provide electricity to 1.5 million customers in Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware, and are investing in awareness and education around electric vehicles, including where to buy them.
Participation is free, you just need to confirm you sell EVs and provide general information about your dealership. For info, please contact Joe Koch at jk@wanada.org or 202-821-5824.
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The WANADA Bulletin is Sponsored by the Following Kindred-Line Members:
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