Election day is behind us and new changes are taking effect across the nation, but the potential seismic change we could have expected here did not reach Maryland.  On the State level the incumbent Democratic Governor won by a wider margin than anticipated and the House and Senate remained firmly in Democratic hands.  Maryland faces a $3 billion budget deficit, as well as a significant long term shortfall in funds needed to maintain and update our transportation system.  MADA will work with the Governor and Legislature to come up with creative solutions to these issues while at the same time making clear that the answer to the problems cannot simply be more taxes on our businesses, customers and employees. 

 MADA urges you to attend our General Membership Meeting and Annual Legislative Reception in Annapolis on January 18, 2011.  This is our first chance to show the new legislators how important our industry is to the State.  We have great success on State Circle with our lobbying efforts, but recent history has proven that the grassroots efforts of dealers are often far more successful.  

Reserve your spot today by downloading a  registration form and returning it by fax, 410.269.1549, or by mail to:

 MADA

7 State Circle, Suite 301

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have recently published the 2011 Fuel Economy Guide for dealers. The Guide provides detailed fuel economy numbers for Model Year 2011 light-duty vehicles, along with estimated annual fuel costs and other information for prospective purchasers.  Under Federal Law, dealers are required to have on display a Fuel Economy Guide for EACH modelyear of new vehicles that they have available for sale. So, if you have 2010 new product in your new car inventory, in addition to the 2011 Fuel Economy Guide, you will need to retain a supply of those Guidesfor 2010.

Paper copies of the Guide are no longer mailed to dealerships automatically. To meet regulatoryobligations to display a booklet and to provide a booklet to customers upon request, dealers can download and print the Guide.  Dealers can also order printed paper Guides from the DOE's Information Center by calling 877.337.3463 between9 a.m. and 7 p.m. EDT.

Although only one copy of the Guide must be on display for each model year of new vehicles offered for sale, copies of the applicable Guides must be made available to customers upon request. The Guide gives consumers important information about estimated fuel costs and mileage standards for new vehicles.

NOTE: The DOE also has an electronic Fuel Guide on their website, which is updated periodically to show annual fuel cost estimates based upon the common average price of gasoline and diesel fuel, and to address newly released models.