billddrummer

Auto Nation's Mike Jackson Interview - Part I

Here in Northern NV, the BMW/Volvo/Porsche store is building a new facility along "New Auto Row," across the street from a Mercedes dealership on Indian land and a brand new Acura store. The strip is adjacent to high-value neighborhoods and looks to supplant the old auto row farther north in a declining neighborhood. Other dealerships that have relocated include Kia/Mazda and Mitsubishi/Saab. Lithia Motors just consolidated its two area stores into one, and now carry 10 brands at one location. Litha purchased some old family stores during the last consolidation, and that created their market presence here.

Interestingly enough, no domestic marques are moving south. Lithia has an existing Lincoln/Mercury dealership at the northern border of the New Auto Row, but Ford may very well pull the franchise and move it to the family-owned Ford store instead. If they're thinking, which it doesn't appear is happening.

GM is keeping its Chevy, Pontiac, GMC, Saturn and Hummer stores along the Old Auto Row. Cadillac and Buick aren't in either neighborhood.