Lake Norman Chrysler Dodge Jeep has put together 7.5 acres of land on Hwy. 21 for a major expansion of its service and parts department. Owners Robin and Jack Salzman plan to build a 16-bay service facility with a parts department.
“We will be adding a minimum of 25 new jobs,” said Jack Salzman. “Weboth feel that to assist our customers, having expanded service facilities will greatly help our customers.”
All told, the Salzmans paid about $2 million for the property which includes the old Lake Norman Tire & Auto building.
The expansion will take the service side of the dealership from 30 service bays to 46.
The dealership’s timetable calls for increased parking for new car inventory in January of 2017. The facility itself, based on timely government permits and approvals, is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of next year.
The dynamics in the automobile industry are such that new car sales are starting to plateau. “We think our service business will keep expanding; new car sales are leveling off nationally,” Salzman said.
Auto sales in the US set a record last year, with 17.5 million new cars and trucks sold. Sales this year haven’t continued surging, but American buyers, emboldened by a good economy and cheap gas, are splurging on bigger and more profitable autos and trucks. Nevertheless, Ford Motor Co. announced in October it was suspending production to let demand catch up with supply.
Salzman said used car sales are strong. “For every one sold in the US, there are four pre-owned or used vehicles sold,” he said.
New vehicle sales at Lake Norman Chrysler Dodge Jeep are up 7 percent year to date; used vehicle sales are up 35 percent in the same period. All told, the dealership moves more than 3,000 vehicles a year.
The Salzmans also own Gastonia Chrysler Dodge Jeep. “The growth has been great,” Salzman said. Between the two stores, they employ 185 people.
Both Salzmans have a passion for giving back, supporting organizations ranging from Friends of the Animals to Big Day at the Lake.
“Robin and I really believe the better we can take care of the company, the more we can give back to the community…the more we can do and the better we can operate our business, the greater opportunities we have to give back…that’s really what drives us,” Salzman said.
