ASSOCIATION UPDATECA's "Big Three" Join Forces SACRAMENTO, CA -(June 20, 2006) - The three longest running and most well-known associations serving the California independent automotive industry, the
Automotive Service Councils of California
(ASCCA), the
California/Nevada Automotive Wholesalers' Association
(CAWA) and the
California Autobody Association
(CAA), announced a recent agreement enhancing the way they work together to address state-specific issues of mutual concern. According to ASCCA, the automotive industry in California is regularly faced with enormous challenges in both the legislative and regulatory arena. Top issues over the past few years have included 15-year/150,000-mile warranty provisions, information availability and challenges from insurer interests. All segments of the industry suffer from a shortage of qualified candidates to enter the workforce and career and technical education remains a critical issue. All of these challenges are better faced with coordinated efforts from associations with the depth of knowledge and experience to effectively handle them. "Our priority is to work together where we can to advance the interests of the automotive industry in California, while at the same time remaining mindful of the fact that we have individual constituencies to represent," says Shelly Nolder, executive director, ASCCA. "We have an agreement to support each others goals and interests. In this way, we are able to truly represent our members and still advance the common cause of the independent automotive sector." Although the three state trade associations have worked together well in the past, the goal now is to increase communication between the associations by having their executives and government affairs teams meet regularly to review and coordinate legislative and regulatory priorities. "This enhancement to the long standing trade associations in California will bolster unity and provide a collective voice for the industry and the respective memberships of the associations," says stated Rodney Pierini, president and CEO of CAWA. "Additionally, CAWA's partnership with the national Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) will also help to serve the California based industry and member businesses." "There are so many challenges today for the small-business owners in the automotive industry that each of our groups need mutual support from time to time. We have had on-going meetings in the past and each of these have been beneficial to all the groups," adds David McClune, Executive Director, CAA. "I am looking forward to forming this strong alliance with ASCCA, CAWA and some of the other quality automotive groups that have an interest in communicating and coordinating our mutual efforts for a strong automotive industry." ASCCA was formed in 1940 and represents over 1,500 individual automotive repair and service facilities in California. CAWA was formed in 1955 and represents over 600 warehouse distributors, jobbers, manufacturers and retailers in the parts industry. CAA was formed in 1967 and represents over 1,000 individual collision repair facilities. The groups say that combining the power of these three associations makes for a strong and vibrant cross-section of the independent automotive sector. In addition, they assert, the alliance will be a vital strategic element in their continuing efforts to protect the interests of their members, and for the public as well.
(Source: ASCCA) 
