NY Auto Dealers to Open $25m Training Center in NYC

State-of-the Art Facility will Provide Training for New and Existing Automotive Employees

NEW YORK, Oct. 18 -- Helping to open the doors of the retail automotive industry to a new generation of tech-savvy, highly trained employees, the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association (GNYADA) will formally unveil its brand-new Center for Automotive Education & Training in Whitestone, Queens, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, October 31st, 2005 at 10.a.m. The event, which includes remarks by federal, state, and local officials, automotive executives, and area dealers, will mark the beginning of new opportunities for individuals and automobile retailers in the greater New York area.

Why: The $25 million project, a first-of-its-kind to be built on this scale by an automobile association, will help curb the shortage of highly trained personnel in all areas of the retail automotive business. In the service department alone, the automotive industry is facing an annual national shortage of over 30,000 trained automotive technicians.

What: The 90,000 square foot energy-efficient educational complex features classrooms outfitted with long-distance learning and satellite capabilities for interactive learning and global broadcasts, state-of-the-art service training areas, classrooms outfitted with the latest digital teaching systems, lecture halls, a 108-seat auditorium and a 5,000 square ft. all-glass atrium, perfect for special displays, and sales training in a simulated showroom atmosphere.

  Where:   Center for Automotive Education & Training
           15-30 Petracca Place
           Whitestone, Queens, New York 11357

  [From New York City, travel east on the Grand Central Parkway or LIE to
   Whitestone Expressway, follow signs to the Whitestone Bridge, exit before
   bridge at 20th Avenue (Exit 15). Go to traffic light and make a left turn
   onto 20th Avenue (cross over Expressway). At the second traffic light,
   make a right turn onto Petracca Place - go to end of street.]

  When: Monday, October 31, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. for a tour and luncheon

Who: The Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, a not-for-profit organization represents 650 franchised automobile dealerships in the metro area of New York, which sells more than 700,000 cars each year. Its members generate over $1 billion for state and local governments and employ approximately 52,000 (directly and indirectly) individuals in metro New York.