LAS VEGAS -

Mark Templin, Toyota Motor Sales group vice president and general manager of the Lexus Division, challenged members of the American International Automobile Dealers Association earlier this week.

When addressing the 2012 AIADA annual meeting and luncheon, Templin gave a speech he titled, “A Legacy of Leadership: What Will You Leave Behind?” After sharing various analogies, he declared that all dealers have a boldness of vision and are risk takers.

“You invested in a particular franchise — that can be risky in itself — and every auto dealer is a leader in their own right. You lead your organizations and your teams to compete, win new customers and make a profit,” Templin told the dealer gathering.

“But you as AIADA dealers have a bigger vision,” he continued. “You had the insight to join this organization and stand together. And at its core AIADA began with a group of risk takers.

“When it started 42 years ago, there were only 15 dealers that got together to help preserve a free market for international automobiles. Now, you’re more than 10,000 strong,” Templin highlighted.

“You’re not just looking out for your own interest. You see the bigger picture and understand that together we can wield more power and build a strong market for all consumers and manufacturers. The auto industry has traveled along these same roads and has a bigger vision beyond just moving sheet metal,” he went on to say.

Templin’s entire speech can be found here.