Yes, it’s tradition! I’m writing my first article about the NADA on the plane on the way to Las Vegas, and this year is no different. I don’t yet know what I’m going to experience there, but one thing I know for sure: the stands where no AI is offered can be counted on one hand.

We always go with a regular group: my wife Olga, Stefanie van Dijk-Meenink, Gerben Beck, Maarten Bekkers and me. In addition, of course our Marktplaats colleagues Melvin Ester, Michiel Aker and Alexander Prinssen are going, who will be there a day earlier.

This time we are flying via London for the first time, and then directly to Las Vegas. Why via London? Well, a business class ticket with British Airways costs less than a Premium Economy ticket with KLM…. Moreover, it’s worth a lot to me to see the happy faces of Stefanie, Gerben and Olga when we can sit comfortably for more than ten hours without hassle! I really see it as a gift and as a token of appreciation to my colleagues for a year of hard work.

What are we going to do then?

I’m posting this article on Thursday, so by then we will already have had a few days in Las Vegas. We thought it would be fun to rent two big SUVs on Monday and drive to Death Valley together. It’s not as hot there now as in the summer, but still. The next day we’ll go by car to CarMax, Carvana and other dealers to see how they do things there. As a Ligier dealer I now know that I can still do many things better.

Few dealers

It is noticeable, by the way: few dealers and car companies are going to the NADA. Yes, it costs money, a lot of money. And yes, it takes time! And no, we don’t always know everything better, but if you want to move forward, then a look across the border, wherever that may be, is always welcome! Some dealers who have been here over the years say they have seen nothing new. Often those are the same dealers who walked the show floor for one hour and then thought it was enough. I can be found on the expo floor from early morning until late afternoon, for example to look at the new Calldrip. A company that stands out and wants to make the crossing to the Benelux, for example.

Holland Drinks

On the Thursday that I post this, it is also the day of the Holland House drinks event, something I have been organizing together with Johan Lammers for a few years now. Johan takes care of the location, I make sure partners such as Marktplaats, #DCDW – Digital Car Dealer Workshop – making online automotive better!, Vinacles, Regeljelease.nl ActivLease and others participate, so that it remains affordable for everyone and we can still organize something nice. It is also noticeable that sponsoring is becoming easier and easier, and that’s how it should be.

Expo

The most important topic of the fair, the expo and the workshops will without a doubt be AI. I think Maarten Bekkers will be in his element with all the new opportunities, threats, ideas and features. I’m going to look for the five stands that don’t have AI. Every year there is a buzzword at the NADA, but now you don’t count if you don’t have AI on your stand…

The only thing I am really looking for is a workshop about how you as a dealer can be found better in ChatGPT instead of in Google. Not being found by ChatGPTnbsp; I increasingly see as a threat to your search volume. Where Google mainly has transactional searches, as a dealer — even if you sell microcars — you want to reach the customer at an earlier stage. If I’m going to look for an AI-related topic at the fair anyway, then on this topic. When I have found the answer or the solution, I will let you know in a next article…

For now, greetings from a sunny, but too expensive Las Vegas!