Staff File Photo by John Rawlston - New vehicles are seen at the Mountain View Nissan of Chattanooga dealership, which is part of the Mountain View Auto Group.Mountain View Auto Group
› Mountain View Ford Lincoln› Mountain View Nissan of Chattanooga› Mountain View Chevrolet› Mountain View Nissan of Dalton, Ga.› Mountain View Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Ringgold, Ga.› Mtn View @ 153› Pandora’s European Motorsports
Chattanooga-based Mountain View Auto Group is prepping for a change in its top leadership ranks as the third generation in the business plans to take the wheel of the 35-year-old venture.
Three of the younger partners in the six-person ownership team, Clay Watson, Don Thomas and Austin Watson, are readying to buy out the other three members, Don Watson, David Watson and Andy Watson.
Clay Watson, dealer-principal for Mountain View Ford Lincoln, said the buyout is expected to take a few years to complete.
He said the move represents a generational shift in the business, though still reflects the family nature of the group that owns six auto dealerships and one motorsports operation in the Chattanooga area.
"It's a true family business," said Watson, 42.
The group goes back to 1981 when C. Austin Watson, grandfather of cousins Clay Watson and Austin Watson, bought the Ford dealership. After tackling the venture alone for several years, his two sons, Don and David along with nephew Andy Watson, joined him to run and help grow the business.
Together, they later acquired the downtown Chattanooga Nissan store in 1988 and then in 1999 purchased a site on Chapman Road for the used car dealership known as Mtn View @ 153.
In 2006, the group bought the Lincoln franchise and then the Chevrolet dealership from Newton Chevrolet in 2007. In 2014, the group acquired the Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram store in Ringgold, Ga.
This year, Mountain View bought the Nissan franchise in Dalton, Ga., and Pandora's European Motorsports on Highway 58, which sells motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles.
While C. Austin Watson died in 2005, work is underway to continue to expand the business, said Thomas, the 54-year-old dealer-principal for Mountain View Nissan of Chattanooga, Mountain View Nissan of Dalton and Mountain View Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Ringgold.
Thomas is married to Austin Watson's sister and entered the business after conversations with Austin's father, Don. He said the group plans to construct a new building at the Ringgold store within a few months. Construction has already started on a new facility for Nissan in Dalton.
Austin Watson, 37, executive manager at the Chattanooga and Dalton Nissan stores and the Chrysler Dodge unit in Ringgold, said last year was a record one for the group.
He said the Chattanooga Nissan store is No. 1 in East Tennessee in new vehicle sales for the brand.
Clay Watson said the Ford outlet is a top 300 dealership among some 3,300 nationwide. He said business is good this year, though "election years can be difficult times."
Overall, they said, new vehicle sales were 10 percent to 15 percent higher in August, though they wouldn't give group revenues. Used vehicle sales were up at least that amount, they said.
Thomas said that even when the car industry dips, the group has continued to do well - something he attributes to being family owned.
"We are into the community," he said. "We take care of our customers."
Clay Watson said the group also tries to take care of its 400 or so employees.
"We're in the people business," he said. "You've got to take care of folks."
Watson said the group has "crafted a great blueprint for success" that he believes will play well for the future.
"The opportunities in the next five years, especially, we'll see quite a bit of opportunities," he said. "We've been taught well."
Looking ahead at industry trends, Austin Watson said he expects to see growth in electric vehicle technology and infrastructure.
"We struggle with the infrastructure," he added.
Clay Watson said low gasoline prices tend to hinder electric vehicle sales. But, he said, electric vehicles are key for automakers as they try to meet increasingly higher federal fuel economy standards.
Concerning driver aids, Austin Watson said motorists are coming to rely on such features as back-up cameras.
On the issue of autonomous driving, Clay Watson said that it appears to be coming though may be five years away. Still, he said, he finds it hard to believe that motorists will want to give up control of their vehicles and driving.
Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318.