Tom Castriota, incoming chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and owner of Castriota Chevrolet, is preparing for some significant changes in 2025. With President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration just days before the 2025 NADA Show, the automotive industry faces an uncertain future under the new administration. Trump is expected to impose massive tariffs and roll back Biden-era clean energy initiatives, which could impact the industry both positively and negatively.
In an interview with Automotive News, Castriota emphasized NADA’s commitment to being the voice of dealers. He shared that the organization’s top priority is preparing for the changes expected from the incoming administration. NADA has been discussing hypothetical scenarios to help them adapt quickly to any policy shifts.
A key concern for Castriota is the potential rollback of vehicle emissions standards, which could ease some regulatory pressures on dealers. However, states like California are likely to continue imposing stricter requirements, particularly on electric vehicle (EV) sales. Castriota also pointed out the ongoing concern about consumer adoption of EVs, which may not meet the pace set by regulatory mandates, creating challenges for inventory and sales.
Another challenge comes from the Federal Trade Commission’s Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) rule, which NADA is challenging in court. Castriota is hopeful that a shift in the FTC’s leadership under Trump could result in a more dealer-friendly approach to regulation.
Castriota also mentioned Scout Motors, a startup brand planning to sell its vehicles directly to consumers, bypassing dealerships. This model has raised concerns among dealers, and he reaffirmed that NADA will closely monitor this development, especially given Scout’s ties to Volkswagen Group.
He’s cautiously optimistic about the new-vehicle market but remains concerned about affordability due to inflation and rising interest rates. He also highlighted the shortage of skilled technicians as a major issue for the industry, noting that NADA is working to develop programs to attract new talent.
As NADA prepares for the 2025 NADA Show, Castriota is focused on ensuring dealers are ready for the challenges ahead, advocating for policies that support the industry, and continuing to support the dealer community through a rapidly evolving market.
