PRESS RELEASE
Date: March 2002
For Immediate Release
Contact: International Automotive Remarketers Alliance (IARA)
Matt Marks, Executive Director
Phone: 973/398-2274
info@iaraonline.org
ARA Grows by Gaining Greater Industry Recognition
ASSOCIATION EDITORIAL
Membership in the International Automotive Remarketing Alliance is skyrocketing. There are now 75 companies, which are members, and it is growing daily. The goal is to have 100 member companies by April 2002.
By Dave Langley,
IARA President
Several major banks, manufacturer captives, auctions, and remarketing services companies have joined the International Automotive Remarketing Alliance (IARA). They are Toyota Financial Services, Bank of America, FirstStar Bank, RVI, Rawls Auto Auction, Driveitaway.com, Fleet Lease Disposal, and Motor Place Auto Exchange. IARA membership is now 75 companies and growing daily. The goal is to have 100 members by April 2002.
Auction Industry Joint Program
IARA is working closely with the National Auto Auction Association (NAAA) to present speakers and panels composed of industry management who are members of the Alliance. Two panels and the luncheon speaker at the WAAA/MWAAA Conference in Santa Monica, CA on March 20-24 are presented by IARA on behalf of the NAAA. In addition, IARA has organized the program of panels and speakers for the Independent Auto Auction Marketing Conference in Chicago on April 12, just before the opening of CAR 2002. Other IARA resources and educational programs are being offered and developed for other industry associations such as NAFRD, NADA, and ACVL.
Next IARA Meeting in Chicago
The next meeting of the Alliance will be at 3 p.m., Friday, April 12, 2002 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago. Members and all companies in the vehicle remarketing industry are invited to attend and learn more about the scope, focus, and direction of IARA activities.
IARA Committee Reports
- Industry Association & Corporate Relations Committee: Chairman John Schuetz, Daewoo Motors.
IARA has made contact with every major industry association to offer assistance in program development, issue support, and conference participation and promotion. Dialogue has been established with major auctions, banks, and manufacturers to learn more about how IARA members can contribute to strengthening of the used-vehicle remarketing industry. - Industry Rewards & Recognition: Chairman Dave Alfonso, Kia Motors.
The committee is in process of identifying and listing all existing programs and sponsorships of awards in the used-vehicle remarketing industry. Appropriate areas for industry recognition are being assessed in order that IARA may sponsor awards and recognition of accomplishment and excellence in used-vehicle management and re-marketing. - Industry Standards and Certification: Chairman Mike Culligan, American Suzuki.
Efforts are being made by the IARA Industry Standards committee to align the resources and focus of the Alliance to support existing initiatives for used-vehicle standardization and condition reporting. IARA membership is being educated and mobilized to support positive industry standards for used-vehicle reporting and representation. - Industry & National Press Communications: Chairman Mike Antich, Bobit Publishing Company.
Articles about IARA and its mission to build an alliance of used-vehicle remarketers nationally and worldwide have appeared in Automotive News, Used Car News, Auto Remarketing, and Vehicle Remarketing magazines. These included interviews with IARA President David Langley of American Honda Finance.
E-Newsletter Launched
An e-newsletter called “The Automotive Remarketer” will be launched in mid-March as an extension of the communications capabilities of the new IARA Web site, www.iaraonline.org. This monthly report will publish IARA activities, educational seminars, and joint programs with industry associations.
For more information on IARA, you can visit our Web site at www.iaraonline.org or call (310) 545-5227.