WASHINGTON — AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson will deliver the keynote address at the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association (WANADA)’s annual luncheon, scheduled for Dec. 7 at The Renaissance Mayflower hotel.

Jackson's speech, titled "The Auto Recovery has Begun,” will detail the reasons for a projected upswing in one of America's most critical industries. The announcement precedes news from the company that it’s new vehicle retail sales increased 21 percent year over year, with double-digit increases in all three of the company’s operating segments: domestic (29 percent), import (10 percent) and premium luxury (up 35 percent).

Jackson has led AutoNation since September 1999 and has served in key leadership roles at Mercedes-Benz USA, from executive vice president to president and, ultimately, CEO. He also served as managing partner of Bethesda's Euro Motorcars from 1979 to 1990.

WANADA's annual luncheon draws hundreds of auto dealers from across the metro region as well as keynotes from James Carville,Mary Matalin, George Will and Knight Kiplinger, according to AutoNation.

Headquartered in the District of Columbia, WANADA is the new car dealer group in the metropolitan Washington area. WANADA also trains and develops dealership personnel under its educational foundation, Automobile Dealer Education Institute.