GNYADA September 2017 Newsletter

7 Dealers Take Advantage of NYS ZEV Rebates

since the launch of the program.

player within New York City politics.” NYC lobbying group, Davidoff Hutcher & Citron, retained as legal counsel by GNYADA a year ago, pro- vides valuable knowledge of and insight into regulatory issues facing businesses operating in New York City. The firm will play a key role in guiding GNYADA through the City’s political processes. GNYADA’s New York City PAC will consist of at least one dealer represen- tative from each of the five boroughs. Committee activities will be funded by donations from New York City dealers who are members of GNYADA. who sell ZEVs to register for the rebate program by visiting www.nyserda.ny.gov/ All-Programs/Programs/Drive-Clean- Rebate/Dealers or contact the Association for assistance. Even prior to the start of this pro- gram, the Association contributed to public adoption of clean vehicle tech- nology on numerous fronts. This included building a clean-technology vehicle exhibition outside Governor Cuomo’s 2016 State-of-the-State address, as well as lobbying the California Air Resources Board to only give manufacturers credit for an EV sale when a car is sold or leased to a retail customer, not simply deliv- ered to a dealership.

8 The New York City Council and Department of Consumer Affairs are repeatedly attempting to overregulate, and often restrict, auto sales in NYC. Some of the regulatory measures being considered include: Requiring dealers to provide cus- tomers with a two-day cooling-off period after a vehicle is delivered; Drastically increasing dealers’ financial disclosure requirements, well beyond what state and federal laws already require; Restricting the sale of any used car subject to an open recall, even if the customer is fully aware of the defect; Creating increasingly onerous and complicated signage requirements. n n n n Results from the first five months of New York State’s “Drive Clean” electric vehicle rebate program are very encouraging for franchised new car dealers. Since the launch of the program in March, franchised dealers in New York have delivered more than 2,100 rebate eligible ZEVs to customers. 68.7% of ZEV sales have taken place in the metro area, compared to the rest of the state. So far, roughly $2.4 million, of the total $55 million allocated for this program by the State, has been paid out in ZEV rebates. Statewide, franchised new car dealerships have accounted for more than 96% of electric vehicle rebate applications,

In response, GNYADA has formed a New York City Political Action Committee. Its goal is to assure that harmful measures such as the above are effectively opposed and that City dealers' concerns are heard and addressed. GNYADA’s New York City PAC will identify, support, and maintain dialogues with local legisla- tors who are receptive to dealer issues and understand the important role dealers play in communities through- out the five boroughs. “Dealers must navigate a maze of regulations on top of those they already face on the state and federal levels, and these can take a serious toll on their costs to conduct busi- ness,” said GNYADA President Mark Schienberg. “We are creating this local PAC so that the dealer, through GNYADA, will be a more effective GNYADA at the Green-Initiative Forefront To help the State meet its clean ener- gy goals, GNYADA worked with the Governor’s Office and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to launch this ZEV incentive program. With hundreds of dealers throughout greater New York now actively par- ticipating in the State’s rebate pro- gram, results thus far are proving — as GNYADA has long maintained — that franchised new car dealers are the best way to get green vehicles on the road in New York. GNYADA encourages all dealers

GNYADA Forms New PAC to Protect NYC Dealers

Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association • www.gnyada.com

The Newsletter • September 2017 5