The retail automotive industry faces challenges on nearly every front. Electric vehicles, artificial intelligence (AI), tightening federal regulation, and a new-car affordability crisis are reshaping the business from the ground up. Meanwhile, the average American new-car dealer is more than 70 years old, and manufacturer consolidation continues to put pressure on independent, family-owned dealerships. The Missouri Automobile Dealers Association saw the leadership gap coming and built its NextGen program to close it. On this episode of Inside Automotive, we’re joined by MADA President and CEO Doug Smith; Chairman Nick Anderson, who also serves as Chair of the NextGen Committee; and Committee Members Kyle Weymuth, Alex Thompson, and Megan Sinclair Rosso. MADA’s NextGen Committee looks to the future MADA represents 368 new-car dealerships across Missouri. Roughly 80% of those are multi-generational, family-owned operations. As average dealer age climbs, MADA president and CEO Doug Smith says the association wanted a structured way to bring younger dealers into the fold. “Getting them to come to our events was pretty easy. It just simply took an invitation, a personal invite from us. And these guys have hit the ground running,” Smith said. "We're here to protect our industry for the future." — Kyle Weymuth The NextGen Committee is open to active dealership managers under 40. Smith said the committee looks for future board members, future advocates, and future leaders who understand the association’s work. “They are the future of our leadership. They are the future of this industry. They speak the language. They know the technology. They’re ahead of the game when it comes to those things,” he said. The challenges today’s auto leaders face Stepping into leadership roles comes with its own challenges, something many of MADA’s members can relate to personally. Megan Sinclair Rosso, Dealer Principal of Dave Sinclair Lincoln and Vice