ATLANTA — The nation's No. 1 car dealer is spending $40 million to buy, build and renovate stores across metro Atlanta.
Channel 2 Action News consumer investigator Jim Strickland caught up with AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson, the man behind the plan, on the floor of the Detroit Auto Show. Jackson said the sense of renewed buzz at the Detroit Auto Show is one sign the car business is coming back.
"I've been to funerals that had a better atmosphere than this auto show in the last two years," Jackson said of previous shows.
AutoNation owns the metro area's Team chain of dealerships.
"One of our key markets is Atlanta, and we're thrilled to make a big acquisition with the Mall of Georgia Toyota store and Hyundai," said Jackson.
The company bought the Toyota store last summer, and within a month, will open a brand new Hyundai dealership.
"(There will be) 50, 60, 70 jobs there when we get it fully done up and running," said Jackson.
AutoNation said Atlanta sales were up 18 percent last year and expects a 12 percent growth in 2011. That equates to 20,000 new cars from nine stores.
"We're gonna have much better credit availability in sub-prime and in leasing, and that's going to be part of the lift in sales in 2011," said Jackson.
Jackson told Strickland that customer sentiment is improving, too.
"I've got a Corolla that's a 2005 with $28,000 miles on it. I don't need a new car. I just want one," said car buyer Marjorie Branton.
That's just the attitude that auto makers and sellers are banking on.
Back at the auto show, most of the displays were all about electric and hybrid cars. They named Chevy Volt the North American Car of the Year.
"Every manufacturer is committed to a broad product offering that embraces fuel-efficiency," said Jackson.
Jackson said he's still deciding which of the fuel-efficient models he'll push in Atlanta showrooms. He said the move to electric and hybrid technology is exciting, but he's not sure it'll sell until the price of gas gets a lot higher.