Many analysts say that one of GM’s major problems is that it has too many vehicles that are alike. As a result, some of the lesser-known brands fail because they don’t sell as well as the others. That’s why two dealers in Frankenmuth, Michigan have made a deal in hopes of fixing the problem in their community.
Martin H. Zehnder, owner of the lone Buick dealer franchise in the small town of Frankenmuth, sold his Buick inventory to Mike Young, owner of a GM dealership in the same city. Zehnder still has Chevrolet-brand vehicles on his lot and Mike Young simply expanded his inventory by adding some Buick vehicles.
According to Zehnder, he was planning on giving up the Buick inventory for some time now. He cited decreased sales and “fewer models,” causing him to make the decision to get out. He also said that Buick was “after him” for a few years to sell his Buick inventory.
For Young, the decision just makes sense. With the Buick nameplate at his dealership, customers have more options of GM models than ever before. And since Chevrolet is GM’s strongest brand, Zehnder still has a wide array of vehicles for customers to choose from.
Normally, business between dealerships wouldn’t make headlines. But since Frankenmuth is such a small town, everybody knows everything that happens there. Located about 90 minutes north of Detroit, Frankenmuth is a community that celebrates a rich German heritage. Most of the buildings display German-style architecture and many of the signs also have English/German translations. It’s also one of the few towns left where you can walk down the streets at night without being afraid. If you ever get a chance and you’re in Michigan, I definitely recommend visiting this quaint little town, especially around Christmastime. It’s a beautiful city that you won’t soon forget.
