TYSONS, Va. (Nov. 29, 2016) - NADA President Peter Welch on Tuesday released the following statement in response to President-elect Donald Trump's expected nomination of Elaine Chao to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation:

“Elaine Chao is an excellent choice to lead the U.S. Department of Transportation, and we commend President-elect Donald Trump for nominating someone who will be able to hit the ground running on Day One.

“Access to affordable personal mobility is what drives America's economy, which is exactly why NADA has urged Washington to steer clear of policies that will only add to the cost of buying, financing, servicing and trading-in a vehicle. The next Secretary of Transportation will play a critical role in determining whether we keep automotive retailing affordable for millions of Americans, and NADA is very much looking forward to working with Secretary Chao to make sure we do just that.”

The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), founded in 1917, represents about 16,500 new-car and -truck dealerships, with both domestic and international franchises. For more information, visit www.nada.org.