New ATAE chair to focus on dealers’ current challenges

The Automotive Trade Association Executives, or ATAE, has elected Scott Lambert as its 2021 chairman. The election took place virtually at the ATAE annual winter meeting on Thursday.

Lambert is president of the Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association and has been with that group for more than 30 years, supporting Minnesota’s more than 375 dealers. He has been association president since 2000.

He said he was honored to serve as ATAE chairman and added that the coronavirus pandemic has complicated the task of operating a dealership in today’s continually changing business environment.

ATAE represents more than 100 state and metro new car and commercial truck dealer associations in the U.S. and Canada.

Its members work on legislative and regulatory challenges facing dealers and focus on educational and training programs, auto shows, conferences and other business services.

Lambert formerly worked for U.S. Rep. Bill Frenzel of Minnesota’s Third Congressional District.

Starting in 2010, he began serving the dual role of running the Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association and the Greater Metropolitan Automobile Dealers Association of Minnesota, which produces the Twin Cities Auto Show.

“I look forward to working alongside the more than 100 state and metro franchised new-car dealer associations across the U.S. and Canada to support the legislative, regulatory and business needs of dealers at the state and local levels,” Lambert said in a news release.