TYSONS, Va. (March 18, 2020)—The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation sent a joint letter to President Donald J. Trump on Wednesday, March 17, stressing the urgent need to consider vehicle repair, maintenance and sales facilities as essential operations during the nation’s response to the coronavirus.

A significant number of states have taken emergency action to force the closure of businesses deemed “nonessential.” Given the lack of uniformity in how states have classified dealership sales, service and parts operations, NADA and the Alliance have specifically requested that the federal government ensure that our nation’s motor vehicle fleet remains as safe and operational as possible by considering vehicle repair, maintenance and sales facilities as essential operations when federal, state and local officials impose certain requirements due to the coronavirus outbreak.

“As our nation continues to confront the coronavirus’s challenges, we want to underscore the importance of ensuring that consumers have access to a safe and well-functioning motor vehicle fleet,” wrote NADA President and CEO Peter Welch and Alliance for Automotive Innovation President and CEO John Bozzella. “Motor vehicles, both new and old, are critical to ensure that the public can get food and other necessities of life, as well as to continue to interact with one another in a manner consistent with public health officials’ recommendations.”

“Given the importance of safe transportation in addressing the coronavirus outbreak, we have an obligation to ensure that motor vehicles remain safe and are properly maintained,” NADA and the Alliance continued. “To that end, it is vital that vehicle repair, maintenance and sales facilities be considered essential operations when federal, state and local officials impose certain requirements due to the coronavirus outbreak.”