Bob Vail of Vail Buick GMC has been elected to the National Automobile Dealers Association’s executive committee as vice-chairman, region I.

A former chair of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, or GNYADA, Vail will represent the Greater New York region’s auto dealers. Those dealers represent a collective $53 billion economic impact and support more than 72,000 jobs in New York City, Long Island and the Lower Hudson Valley.

Vail is also now responsible for bringing together eastern U.S. industry leaders to speak with a strong collective voice, GNYADA said.

Since 2017, Vail has represented Metro New York on NADA’s board, also serving as an active member of NADA's industry relations and regulatory affairs committees.

Vail makes frequent trips to Washington, D.C., with heavy involvement in various federal dealer issues.

Those issues include vehicle recalls, repealing the FET on new heavy-duty trucks, and autonomous vehicles.

A third-generation auto dealer, Vail said national-level events have a strong impact on New York businesses.

“Being a part of the NADA executive committee, I will be able to elevate the specific concerns of GNYADA members, to ensure our common goals are addressed in Washington,” Vail said in a news release.

“Bob is a longtime small business owner who knows our industry as well as anyone,” said GNYADA president Mark Schienberg. GNYADA said Vail brings more than 40 years of dealership experience, serving on GNYADA’s executive committee for 10 years.

Schienberg also said, “During his many years of service on the GNYADA board, he has proven to be a tireless advocate for the retail auto business. As we confront the unique and complicated challenges presented by the COIVD-19 pandemic, and the ongoing regulatory hurdles that face our industry, our members are extremely fortunate to have someone with Bob’s experience and knowledge representing them.”

The Vail family has been in the auto industry since his grandfather first opened a Chevrolet dealership in Ossining, N.Y. in 1918.

Entering the family business in the 1960s, Vail started as a mechanic at a Studebaker dealership that his father and brother owned. He now carries on the family-business tradition, with his son, Greg, also serving as his business partner at their Bedford Hills, Westchester dealership.

“GNYADA knows that no one is better prepared than Vail to serve as the voice of dealers in the nation’s capital, and the Association wishes to congratulate him on this substantial achievement,” GNYADA said.