Fertitta Automotive Group Buys Houston Chevrolet Dealership
The owner of the Houston Rockets has purchased a Chevrolet dealership, his company’s first non-luxury car brand.
Fertitta Automotive Group, a recently formed division by Tilman Fertitta, bought Norman Frede Chevrolet in Clear Lake and rebranded to Fertitta Chevrolet. All of the dealership’s current employees have been retained.
The Chevy purchase is a departure from the usual car brands associated with Fertitta, who business portfolio includes luxury car dealerships, the NBA’s Houston Rockets, casinos and restaurants. Fertitta Automotive operates Post Oak Motor Cars, which sells ultra-luxury brands such as Bentley, Bugatti and Rolls-Royce at its locations by The Post Oak Hotel in Uptown and in The Woodlands.
“For nearly 50 years, Norman Frede Chevrolet has been a valued, mainstay in the Greater Houston automotive landscape,” Lonny Soza, Dealer Operator at Fertitta said in a news release. “The Fertittas are dedicated to ensuring that every customer is treated like family, with the same level of respect and service that has defined their success in all their ventures.”
Fertitta has been looking to expand into the non-luxury space for years and found the Chevrolet dealership as the right opportunity at the right time, said Soza.
Ken Ganley Opens Dealership in Ohio
Ken Ganley Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram recently opened a new building in Norwalk, OH. Ganley, which specializes in selling and servicing Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram and Hyundai vehicles, spent more than $13 million tearing down and rebuilding its Milan Avenue buildings over the last two years. The Hyundai building was torn down, rebuilt and opened a year ago. Then the Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram building was torn down and rebuilt over the last year.
The Hyundai dealership totals 18,000 square feet, on the property’s south side while the Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram campus has about 3,000 square feet on the north side.
Now complete, Ganley’s campus will “have the highest amenities for the best customer experience,” general manager John Decker said. “I’m so excited for this. It’s another huge milestone for us, and we’ll be bringing in more jobs and have a better facility right here in Norwalk, Ohio. Only good can come from this.”
Lexus Dealership Planned in Naples
After launching a new BMW dealership two years ago in East Naples, FL, Germain Motor Co. is expanding with a new Lexus dealership planned on more than nine acres recently cleared on the south side of Immokalee Road between Livingston Road and Juliet Boulevard in North Naples.
The project will expand inventory and service capabilities for Germain Lexus in a new 80,000-square-foot facility. Germain plans to relocate the dealership that has operated for years on about five acres at U.S. 41 and Wiggins Pass Road in North Naples.
Mohawk Chevrolet’s Adopts Curbee’s Mobile Service Platform
Mohawk Chevrolet has selected Curbee as its mobile service technology partner. Mohawk Chevrolet is an upstate New York-based dealer that recently went viral when GM CEO Mary Barra appeared on its mockumentary-style social media videos based on The Office.
Curbee’s mobile service platform empowers dealerships to easily and profitably offer mobile service to customers at their homes, offices or wherever they choose. By leveraging Curbee’s advanced technology, Mohawk Chevrolet aims to optimize service operations, enhance customer engagement and drive higher customer satisfaction.
Mohawk Chevrolet General Manager Travis Horne said the dealer is already feeling the impact of using Curbee’s platform.
“Curbee’s mobile service platform is exactly what we needed to elevate our dealership’s service offerings,” Horne said. “The ability to streamline scheduling and provide on-site maintenance will not only boost our operational efficiency but also create a more personalized and convenient experience for our customers. We’re looking forward to seeing how this partnership will enhance customer loyalty and drive new business.”