758 University Avenue, Sacramento, California 95825 • 916-954-9054 • shelly@ascca.com
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Shelly Nolder
“Big Three” Automotive Aftermarket Associations Join Forces to
Combat Threats to Industry
“Organizations join together to enhance communication in government affairs”
Sacramento, California – June 20, 2006 - The three longest running and most powerful voices for the
independent sector of the automotive industry, the Automotive Service Councils of California (ASCCA),
the California/Nevada Automotive Wholesalers’ Association (CAWA) and the California Autobody
Association (CAA) have recently enhanced the way they work together to address issues of mutual
concern to the automotive industry in California.
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 as well. 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. 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,”
stated Shelly Nolder, Executive Director, ASCCA.
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. Additionally,
CAWA’s partnership with the national Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) will also help to
serve the California based industry and member businesses,” stated Rodney Pierini, President and CEO
of CAWA.
"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. 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,” asserted David
McClune, Executive Director, CAA.
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 combined power of the big three associations makes for a strong and vibrant cross-section of the
independent automotive sector and will be a vital strategic element in our continuing struggle to protect
the interests of our member businesses as well as the public at large.