this is a CA phone number and i'm in MD. No idea why a Car dealer keeps calling me.

Market research firm.
This number called my cellphone, 12 Dec 2007, then hung up when I answered. I called number back and got a recorded message something like this:
This is Synovate (sp? may be this firm: http://www.synovate.com/ ) We are a mkt research firm and do no selling. This is a dial out number. If you want to call our corp office, call 866-320-4607
I called that number and was offered the (automated) option of specifying a number to be removed from their call database. I was then offered a menu option to get a call back from a human. When I selected "No" my removal request was acknowledged and the recording said I'd be removed in "a couple of days"

I called the corp office number as listed above and had the same experience.
Totally painless but they shouldn't have been calling in the first place.

I own a Hyundai in TX, so they probably got the number from the dealership.

Hello,
When people buy Hyundai's or have services done at authorized dealers then they do call a few customers to ensure that your experience was efficient and positive.