Leon Edwards, a former president of the Nationwide Vehicle Sellers Affiliation who led the group when it agreed to a decade of antitrust oversight by the U.S. Justice Division, died Saturday. He was 89.

Edwards, a Chevrolet seller from Birmingham, Ala., was NADA president in 1995. Throughout his tenure, NADA agreed to the antitrust settlement that known as for 10 years of monitoring after the group was accused of constructing unlawful efforts to restrict value competitors in automotive gross sales to shoppers.

On the time, NADA leaders, together with Edwards, stated they opted to settle with the Justice Division somewhat than face litigation that they stated would have price no less than $1 million to defend, according to an October 1995 article by Automotive News.

Edwards and different NADA leaders denied that the affiliation’s actions violated antitrust legal guidelines. However the price to struggle the allegations in courtroom might have been “crippling,” Edwards stated in a letter to NADA members after the board voted to settle.

As part of the Sept. 20, 1995, settlement, NADA admitted no fault, promised to not break the legislation, paid no positive and agreed to 10 years of Justice Division scrutiny .

In his letter, Edwards additionally wrote, “All through this investigation, NADA has argued that addressing these points and the numerous different points confronting sellers is a correct operate of a commerce affiliation.”

Edwards himself was cited within the Justice Division’s investigation. As president-elect of the group in 1994, Edwards chaired a NADA process power on lowered new-vehicle margins. The duty power launched a draft report that mistakenly contained an unapproved advice that sellers refuse to do enterprise with auto brokers. That provision was caught and faraway from the report earlier than a last model was issued.

Edwards launched his 12 months as NADA president describing himself to Automotive News as a “negotiator” and saying he wished to enhance sellers’ relationships with automakers.

“You do not have to ‘give ’em hell’ in speeches to take care of the producer,” Edwards stated. “I believe you are able to do extra by sitting down with them in a closed room and provides them your facet and take heed to their facet and attempting to work out a compromise. That is the way in which to get issues finished.”

Throughout Edwards’ 58 years within the automotive business, he held positions on the NADA Board of Administrators and Chevrolet Nationwide Seller Council and was president of the Birmingham sellers affiliation. He additionally mentored and provided assist to a number of workers who began their very own dealerships in Alabama and Florida.

His father, William Sterling Edwards, began Edwards Chevrolet in 1916.