AADA Convention and Expo
MCEC Melbourne | 21-22 July 2027
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AADA Convention and Expo
MCEC Melbourne | 21-22 July 2027
Sponsor advertisement
The automotive industry has always been global, but the forces shaping dealership operations today are moving faster, reaching further and landing harder than ever.
Supply chains, trade policy, geopolitical tension, emissions regulation, consumer choice, electrification, new market entrants and the rise of Chinese EV brands are all influencing the way dealers operate.
For Australian dealers, the challenge is not simply to understand what is happening overseas.
It is to understand how those global forces translate into local impact.
That is the focus of Global Challenges – Dealer Impact, a major Main Stage panel taking place as part of the Commonwealth Bank Keynote Session at the 2026 AADA Convention & Expo.
Moderated by James Voortman, AADA CEO, the panel will bring together a powerful mix of geopolitical, international dealer and Australian industry perspectives.
The panel will feature:
Dr Merriden Varrall, CEO, vantage geopol. Rob Cochran, 2026 Chairman, National Automobile Dealers Association; Chairman & CEO, #1 Cochran
Michael Croxon, Chair, Canadian Automobile Dealers Association; President & CEO, NewRoads Automotive Group
Tony Weber, Chief Executive, Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries
Together, they will examine how global disruption is affecting automotive retail in Australia, the United States, Canada and the broader region.
The session will take place on Wednesday 29 July at 3:30pm on the Main Stage.
Australian dealers are not insulated from global disruption.
A change in trade policy can affect vehicle supply. Strategic competition can reshape manufacturing investment and export pathways. Emissions policy can alter model mix and pricing. Consumer demand can shift faster than manufacturers, regulators or retailers expect.
At the same time, the Australian market has its own unique pressures.
Our geography, customer preferences, vehicle use cases, regional transport needs, charging infrastructure, regulatory settings and brand mix all influence how global trends are felt locally.
That is why this panel matters.
It will not simply ask what is happening overseas. It will ask what Australian dealers can learn from international markets, and where the local market requires its own response.
Dr Merriden Varrall will bring a geopolitical lens to the discussion, helping dealers understand how shifts in global power, state behaviour and strategic competition can shape real-world operating risk.
For automotive retail, geopolitics is no longer a distant concern.
It can affect supply chains, trade flows, technology access, brand positioning, economic security and the strategic decisions being made by manufacturers around the world.
Merriden’s perspective will help connect the bigger global picture with the commercial realities facing dealers on the ground.
Rob Cochran will bring the perspective of the United States dealer network as 2026 Chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association and Chairman & CEO of #1 Cochran.
The United States remains one of the world’s most mature and influential franchised dealer markets. Its dealers are also navigating major change across electrification, affordability, manufacturer relations, retail technology, consumer demand and business resilience.
Rob’s contribution will give Australian dealers insight into how US dealers are responding to disruption, where the franchise model is being tested, and what lessons may be relevant to Australia.
Michael Croxon will bring the Canadian dealer perspective as Chair of the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association and President & CEO of NewRoads Automotive Group.
Canada offers another valuable comparison point for Australian dealers. Like Australia, it is a market shaped by geography, consumer choice, policy pressure, franchise relationships and the need to balance national objectives with practical retail realities.
Michael’s experience in dealer leadership, association representation and automotive retail will add an important international dealer voice to the discussion.
Tony Weber, Chief Executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, will bring the Australian industry and policy perspective.
As Australia’s new vehicle market responds to emissions policy, changing model availability, consumer demand, cost-of-living pressure and the rapid evolution of powertrain choices, the relationship between policy intent and market reality has become increasingly important.
Tony will help connect the global discussion back to the Australian market and the policy settings influencing vehicle supply, affordability, customer choice and dealer operations.
This session is designed to give dealers a broader view of the forces shaping their businesses.
The discussion will explore:
How geopolitical risk can affect automotive markets and supply chains
What Australian dealers can learn from the United States and Canada
How emissions policy and electrification are reshaping vehicle mix
The rise of Chinese EV brands and new competitive pressure
The importance of consumer choice in a changing market
Why global disruption lands differently in each market
Where Australian dealers may need to prepare, adapt and respond
For dealers, the value is perspective.
When the market is changing quickly, better context leads to better decisions.
Global Challenges – Dealer Impact will take place as part of the Commonwealth Bank Keynote Session at the 2026 AADA Convention & Expo.
Join James Voortman, Dr Merriden Varrall, Rob Cochran, Michael Croxon and Tony Weber for a Main Stage discussion on the global forces shaping automotive retail and what they mean for Australian dealers.
The 2026 AADA Convention & Expo takes place 29–30 July at ICC Sydney.
