With conference season in full swing, the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association continued preparations for its big event this summer by aligning with a trio of service providers aimed at helping operators who do not have a direct connection to an automaker.

DriveItAway, the first company dedicated to equipping dealers with the tools to participate in the explosive growth of mobility as a service and shared mobility services, has joined with the association as NIADA’s latest National Member Benefit partner.

Solera Holdings, a provider of digital technologies that connect and secure cars, homes and identities, has teamed with the NIADA as a Bronze-level National Corporate Partner.

And PGW Auto Glass, one of North America’s largest auto glass distributors, has joined with the NIADA as a new National Member Benefit partner.

While Las Vegas hosted National Automobile Dealer Association festivities this past weekend, all of these moves were made by NIADA as the association continues to prepare for the 2018 NIADA/NABD Convention and Expo at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Fla., June 18-21. For more information about the 2018 NIADA Convention and Expo or to register, visit www.niadaconvention.com or www.bhphinfo.com.

The event is all about helping dealers advance their businesses, like the relationship with DriveItAway.

Identifying a need for automotive retailers to quickly ramp up their experience and business revenues in the rapidly emerging world of car sharing and subscription services, DriveItAway will offer its turnkey platform to NIADA members in an industry partnership.

DriveItAway said it will provide NIADA members with all the tools to offer a subscription model Car Sharing platform, including self-service software, all insurance coverages and training to allow dealers to quickly and profitably begin to add a cents-per-mile model to the traditional one car sale/one profit scenario.

Every association member using DriveItAway’s turnkey program also can immediately offer the Lyft Your Down Payment program, which provides new Lyft drivers with immediate temporary vehicles to drive at a daily or weekly rate so they can raise money for a down payment to buy the vehicle of their choice — offered by the participating dealership.

“Ride sharing companies such as Lyft are always recruiting, in volume, for new drivers, and many potential new drivers lack vehicles or appropriate vehicles to drive,” DriveItAway founder and chief executive officer John Possumato said. “While there are other temporary rental vehicles available, we have found many current and prospective Ride Share drivers want to own the vehicle they drive and are looking for a path-to-ownership opportunity.

“Conversely, dealers are always looking for new buyer prospects, and many could close more deals if prospects had just a little more cash down with a quick and direct method to raise that money,” Possumato continued.

Possumato insisted DriveItAway’s program “beautifully merges those two needs” by enabling dealers to provide temporary vehicles to new Lyft drivers, who can then come back to the dealership with the cash to buy a vehicle.

“We even throw in a little incentive cash to the drivers to add to their down payment when they achieve a certain number of rides — if they buy a vehicle from that dealership,” Possumato said.

“We are thrilled to kick off this first of its kind program with NIADA, a clear win for dealers by expanding the range of qualified buyers and a testament that NIADA is an organization that best prepares its members for doing business today — and tomorrow,” he went on to say.

NIADA senior vice president of member services Scott Lilja said working with DriveItAway gives NIADA members a new turnkey profit center that also leads to more vehicle sales and expands members’ role in the new Shared Mobility environment.

“This is a win-win-win for our members, their customers and ride sharing companies such as Lyft,” he said. “Plus, entering in the mobility as a service business through DriveItAway gives industry-leading dealerships valuable and profitable experience in that expanding business sector of transportation and comprehensive preparation to enable our members to embrace many future customer-need scenarios.”

Solera joins with NIADA as National Corporate Partner

Solera Holdings, a provider of digital technologies that connect and secure cars, homes and identities, has teamed with NIADA as a Bronze-level National Corporate Partner.

Solera’s offerings manage risk and assets for the digital world of today, creating a digital marketplace that empowers customers to manage the entire life of the vehicle from a single platform.

Solera processes more than 300 million digital transactions annually for some 235,000 partners and customers in nearly 90 countries.

Solera companies include Identifix, which serves more than 250,000 automotive technicians and shop owners in the U.S., Canada and Latin America through its online Direct-Hit system, Virtual Technician Service, Direct Market and Direct-Shop shop management system; and AutoPoint, which can combine marketing strategies, service execution and titling tools to create a single, comprehensive technology platform aimed at transforming the customer experience from end to end.

“Solera is a leader in the insurance claims management, digital marketing, electronic title/registration and vehicle service repair data industries,” Lilja said. “It delivers very innovative, high quality and impactful solutions to assist our member dealers in selling and servicing more vehicles profitably.”

For more information, visit www.autopoint.com and www.identifix.com, and for more on Solera, visit www.solera.com.

PGW Auto Glass on board as NIADA National Member Benefit Partner

PGW Auto Glass, one of North America’s largest auto glass distributors, has joined with NIADA as a new National Member Benefit partner.

PGW Auto Glass offers a wide selection of glass repair and replacement products at more than 120 locations, including glass, repair, sundries and replacement support products, as well as distribution service for the automotive industry.

NIADA members will be offered special pricing on auto glass and select supplies through the partnership and will have access to PGW Auto Glass’ e-ordering system and Sundries Help Desk through its call center.

PGW Auto Glass said it also plans to offer exclusive discounts to NIADA members on chip repair kits.

“We are extremely pleased to have the number one glass distributor in the U.S., PGW Auto Glass, come on board as an endorsed NIADA National Member Benefit partner,” Lilja said.

 “With more than 8,000 customers, PGW is a top supplier to all of North America’s national and independent glass installers,” Lilja continued. “This is an immense opportunity for our members to enjoy 100 percent of the profit from glass replacement work versus outsourcing, while enjoying substantial cost benefits in the process.”