A chain of used-vehicle operations with sites in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana has made a location in Adrian its 48th facility.
Superior Auto, 1223 E. U.S. 223, opened its doors in late July and is doing such brisk business that to sales manager Jesse Perez, it only validates the company’s reasons for coming to Adrian.
“(From) what I’ve seen in two weeks, there was really a need for it,” said Perez.
Superior Auto itself has been in business for more than 35 years. At first, the dealerships were only in Indiana, but over the years, it branched out into the rest of the tri-state area.
The key to the company’s operations, Perez said, is that it offers its own financing and works to serve customers with poor, bad or even no credit.
“We believe in giving (people) a second chance,” he said, noting that in many cases customers’ credit trouble may be due to factors out of their control, such as medical problems. “We help them re-establish their credit, and the rewards are getting people into a vehicle.”
Customers can either get their own financing or, if they need the dealership’s help with getting credit, can fill out the application online or by phone or do so right at the dealership.
Perez went to work for Superior Auto after he had retired from the Gus Harrison Correctional Facility but was not yet ready to fully retire.
“I saw this as a good opportunity,” he said. And learning the automotive-sales business was not all that steep of a learning curve for him.
“To me, this is about people, and helping their needs,” he said.
Currently, Perez has about 40 vehicles on his lot, ranging from 1999 to 2006 models, and plans to soon have 64. The inventory comes from sources such as trade-ins, people selling their vehicles to Superior and auctions.
And because Superior has so many locations, if a customer comes to him looking for something he doesn’t have, he can go online, locate a suitable vehicle at a different Superior dealership, and do a trade for it. In all, a total of some 1,000 cars, trucks, vans and SUVs are available at a given time throughout the chain, according to Perez.
“Pretty much, what the customer is looking for, we can find it for them,” he said. “And our inventory changes daily.”
Superior Auto is celebrating its grand opening Friday, Aug. 23, and Saturday, Aug. 24, with drawings for prizes, refreshments and a planned appearance by the dirt track car sponsored by the company that is driven by Jarrett Andretti of the famed racing family.
The dealership is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The phone number is 517-759-1284. The company’s website is www.superior-auto.com.
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This article was written based on information provided by the business.
Lenawee in Business is a feature of The Daily Telegram business page for new businesses and businesses celebrating a major anniversary. If you have a story for a Lenawee in Business, call assistant news editor Sue Van Fleet at 265-5111, ext. 259, or email sue@lenconnect.com.
