Big Split in Automotive Industry
Published:Wednesday | April 4, 2018 | 12:00 AMNeville Graham
Three of Jamaica’s leading car companies have joined forces to create the New Car Dealers Association of Jamaica (NCDAJ).
The new body will rival the decades-old Automobile Dealers Association (ADA). The founding members are Toyota Jamaica, the ATL Automotive Group and Kingston Industrial Garage (KIG). Together they represent almost two-thirds of new vehicle sales in Jamaica, according to a release from the Association. All three are former members of the ADA
Chairman of the NCDAJ is John Ralston, who is also managing director of Tank Weld Equipment Limited, dealers of the Shacman truck brand. Deputy Chairman of the NCDA is Wayne Cummings, Group Commercial Director of the ATL Automotive Group.
The NCDAJ says it wants to be a proactive new trade body "tasked with ensuring new vehicle dealers are represented with a strong and united voice and increase the standard of customer service for motorists in Jamaica,’ according to the release.
Cummings noted that the three founding members of the NCDA "did not feel that all members had equal representation" within the ADA. With that in mind the new Association will rely on the principle of one member, one vote regardless of company size.