Jeff Nielsen (general manager, Nielsen Hyundai-Kia, Michigan City), Bob Nielsen (owner) and Mike McManus (general manager, Pine Ford Lincoln Mercury).
Bob Nielsen, owner of Pine Chevrolet and Pine Ford Lincoln Mercury, is mad as hell. And you would be, too, if you had spent four decades of your life in the automotive industry — working hard, doing your best — only to have the rug pulled out from underneath you. That’s what it felt like when, a few weeks ago, Bob received a letter from GM advising him that Pine Chevrolet had been identified as a “wind down dealer” — a euphemism for the fact the Bob’s long term relationship with Chevy was being terminated. The fact that the Big 3 auto makers in Detroit are in desperate straits is not news, but as LaPorte County’s most successful dealer in 2008, it was a low blow to learn that Pine Chevrolet was one of the 2000 North American dealerships targeted for closure.
In its efforts to restructure the company, GM, in cooperation with the government’s Auto Industry Task Force, concluded that LaPorte is not large enough to support a Chevy dealership. This seemed pretty ironic to Bob, because over the years Pine Chevrolet has sold over 17,680 cars and vehicles.
Unlike some other dealers who will simply be out of business, Bob represents other brands and has decided to move his Ford Lincoln Mercury dealership into what had been Pine Chevrolet at 1522 East Lincolnway. He will use his 1301 Pine Lake Avenue property to sell certified pre-owned vehicles, and he will continue to service cars of all makes and models — including Chevrolets and other GM vehicles — at his award-winning service center and body shop on Lincolnway.
Bob points out that Ford is the only one of the Big 3 that did not accept bailout money from the federal government. For more than 100 years, Ford has been a symbol of American pride, and in a recent independent survey on customer loyalty, six of the top 10 vehicles were Fords.
Bob is extremely proud of his LaPorte staff, many of whom have worked for him for years. Customers will be pleased to learn that their cars will be continue to be serviced by the same factory-trained, ASC-certified master mechanics they have come to know and trust. They will also find that the friendly and competent sales and administrative staff have remained unchanged.
Bob wants everyone in LaPorte and the surrounding area to know that while he is making some necessary changes to his business, the mission, values and people of Pine Ford Lincoln Mercury have remained the same. They will continue to offer great new Fords and certified pre-owned cars of all makes and models, award-winning service and bodywork, and outstanding customer service. GM and the federal government may not feel an obligation to the people of LaPorte, but Bob does and he is happy that he will be able to retain nearly all of his employees.
Over the years, Bob and his staff have supported the LaPorte Chamber of Commerce, the Builders Association and local youth organizations. They have provided vehicles for the LaPorte High School Drivers’ Education Program, and have offered their facility for the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association Lock-Up. They have offered support to needy families at Christmastime, and they plan to continue their philanthropic and civic efforts. They want to give back to the community and citizens who have supported Pine Chevrolet and Pine Lincoln Mercury over the past 25 years.
While Bob is angry, he cannot change what GM hath wrought. He and his staff are excited about the opportunity to invest even more energy and resources into Pine Ford Lincoln Mercury and his pre-owned vehicle business on Pine Lake Avenue. It’s been a bumpy ride for the past few weeks, but Bob is not looking back. Ford is here to stay and so is Pine Ford Lincoln Mercury.
– Barbara Eastman, LaPorte
