Mountain View Auto Group
Chattanooga-based company currently operates these dealerships in the area:› Mountain View Chevrolet› Mountain View Ford Lincoln› Mountain View Nissan› Mountain View Nissan of Dalton› Mountain View Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram› Mountain View @ 153Sonic AutomotiveCharlotte, N.C.-based company runs or will have these dealerships in Chattanooga area:› BMW of Chattanooga› Economy Honda› Nissan of Chattanooga East› Nissan of Cleveland
A pair of auto dealers are making a big bet on turbocharging their Nissan sales with the opening of new showrooms in the Chattanooga area.
Chattanooga-based Mountain View Auto Group has bought the Pye Nissan inventory in Dalton, Ga., the company said. It is remodeling the former Sale Auto Mall in Dalton into a new 50,000-square-foot dealership near Walnut Square Mall.
Also, Sonic Automotive is erecting a $9.8 million Nissan dealership in Cleveland, Tenn., at Interstate 75 and U.S. Highway 74 at Exit 20. That store is slated to open around October, according to Sonic.
Thomas Williams, executive manager of Mountain View Nissan of Dalton, said the auto company already is one of the top-selling car brands in the tri-state area.
He said Mountain View Nissan in Chattanooga is breaking sales records. Mountain View Auto Group wants to bring those same results to North Georgia, Williams said.
"We're real excited to be down here," he said. Williams said the dealership has been operating about a month and has sold 91 vehicles.
Plans are to have about 350 new and used vehicles on the dealership lot, which is expected to be completed by next spring, he said.
Sonic's Nissan of Cleveland store is expected to be about 17,000 square feet in size with room to grow, said Raymond Valentine, the chain's vice president of manufacturer relations and facilities and customer satisfaction.
It will be Charlotte, N.C.-based Sonic's 100th dealership nationally, he said.
"We did some homework and worked with Nissan on making sure it's good in their eyes," Valentine said. "The key for us is to be on the side of the highway for easy access."
Sonic in 2014 purchased what is now Nissan of Chattanooga East off Highway 153 from dealer Ken Hunt.
Valentine said Cleveland is "a growing market" and that the new store will employ up to 35 people.
"Between Chattanooga and Cleveland, we think we can capitalize on the customer base," he said. "We're looking forward to the opportunity."
Valentine didn't believe the new store will be too close to Sonic's Chattanooga Nissan dealership.
"Their boundaries touch, but they should be far enough away," he said.
Williams said Pye Nissan didn't want to sell that dealership's property. Mountain View moved the Nissan store to 1706 E. Walnut Ave., and the revamped store will be "state of the art," he said.
"This will be the newest design" for a Nissan store, Williams said, adding that it will employ from 50 to 70 people.
He said Dalton is on the rebound from a sharp downturn during the recession.
"We thought this would be a great time to reinvest in Dalton and the North Georgia area," Williams said. He declined to say how much the company is investing in the new space.
Williams said the Dalton store's service department will have about 25 bays and stalls.
Nissan's U.S. sales hit a record in June. The Nissan division finished the month with sales of 129,495 units, up 13 percent over a year ago, according to the Japanese automaker that has its U.S. headquarters in Nashville.
Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318.