Video: Philadelphia Chapter -- 2013 Manufacturer Product Preview And Philadelphia Auto Show

The Philadelphia Chapter welcomed representatives from several automakers for their meeting on January 22 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Members and Affiliates were treated to a luncheon buffet as they packed the meeting room to hear of the latest offerings from the OEMs.

The event, co-sponsored by Chrysler, Ford, Subaru, Volkswagen, Volvo, WEX, (as contributing sponsors); Bayshore Trucks, ARI, Wheels, Inc., Toyota, Hyundai, and NAFA's Philadelphia Chapter (as Silver-level sponsors); and The CEI Group, GM, and Nissan (Bronze-level sponsors) was filled with conversation, networking, bottomless cups of coffee, and new technology in the automaker presentations.

The key to 2013's refreshed models and 2014's coming models remains safety. This was expressed through new thinking in air bags, auto-braking, rearview parking cameras, and lane-correcting cockpit alert systems. "Greener" practices was also a subject on attendees' minds. NAFA Member Debbie Struna, Fleet Specialist for Rite Aid Pharmacies, said one of her primary points for attending was to see what was being made available with sustainability in mind.

The presentations were broken into two blocks, the first giving the floor to Chrysler; Volkswagen's Lorraine Heinicke, a NAFA Affiliate; NAFA Affiliate Gerry Merritts, National Fleet Manager for Volvo of North America; and NAFA Affiliate Mike Brann, Fleet Field Manager for Toyota.

During the break, Chapter Chair Kevin Fisher, CAFM, ARAMARK announced that the Chapter officers for 2013 would continue as in the previous year as all had agreed to stay on, and after a quick vote, the 2013 officers roster was complete.

NAFA Affiliate Ron Lasman, who oversees National Commercial Fleet Accounts for Subaru of America, continued with presentations and added to the theme of attention to safety. NAFA Affiliate Marc Sears and Ray Sciarappa discussed what is on-deck for Nissan, Infiniti, and Nissan's work-van segments; Mercedes-Benz touted not only the executive-class vehicles, but enthusiasm for their upcoming lines of clean diesel engines; GM's Mark Harris and Ford's Gene Morabito offered vehicles that seize on gains made in the electric vehicle segment; and NAFA Affiliate Tom Lauer, Key Account Manager for BMW revealed the extended-sized Mini Countryman, a four-door extension of the Mini Cooper line, and the BMWi - all-electric. Concluding the presentations was NAFA Affiliate Michael Stafford, Senior Commercial Accounts Manager for Audi of America, presenting a full course of TDI turbo diesel variants for the current and coming year.

From there, attendees were prompted to move upstairs to the main expo floor of the Philadelphia Auto Show where examples of all the vehicles from the presentations, a few ultra-priced dream cars, and some classic examples of automobile yesteryear were on display.

Want to see more? Click the links below to see footage from NAFA at the Philadelphia Auto Show:

NAFA Fleet Management Association
125 Village Blvd., Suite 200
Princeton, NJ 08540

Telephone: 609.720.0882 Fax: 609.452.8004