I have been waiting a very long time for today. I changed careers to help inform the world about plug-in vehicles and see what I’m doing as a crusade to save the planet. I wasn’t surprised to see that most Chevrolet salespeople don’t care about Volt or Bolt EV. It didn’t take long, in this new field, to see how profit margins, commissions, etc, all combine to incentivize a salesperson to not sell one of these awesome vehicles.
I slogged along, in the beginning, with experienced car salespeople wondering what I was doing here. Slowly, I built a following. Not everyone bought from me, but almost anyone I spoke with, recognized my passion and knowledge for the Volt & Bolt EV. I’ve sold everything Chevrolet makes, in order to make a living, but my coworkers tell me I have a “certain glow” or smile, when I’m in a Volt/Bolt EV deal.
I pitched the idea of installing chargers out where the inventory sits on display. I pitched the idea of an EV/Hybrid Sales & Education center, which became Electric Avenue. I used my experience at Apple to come up with a layout for the building and how educational sales could be made profitable by being quicker. Classic Chevrolet‘s owner, Tom Durant, has listened and spent an amazing amount of money, doing the things I needed to make our plug-in sales grow.
Now, although we opened the EV/Hybrid building back on February 4th, and we had found out, just 3 weeks before that we wouldn’t get the Bolt EV for another 6 months, I feel like we’re really opening for the first time.
The reason is, for the first time, we have every hybrid and EV that Chevy makes, in stock and ready to sell! Traditional hybrids, like the Silverado 1500 eAssist hybrid (which has a V8 engine as well as an electric motor) and the Malibu Hybrid, as well as the Volt plug-in, sequential hybrid and now, the Bolt EV. Adding to my joy, is the fact that the Bolt EV arrived a month earlier than GM had foretold, back in January, and that it is Motor Trend’s Car of the Year.
Thanks for being a part of the journey.
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You guys can now add my Spark EV trade to your list of electrified cars lol. 🙂 We are super happy with our Bolt. Took it for a 3 hour drive all over north dallas and collin county… and still have 150 miles left!
That’s an EV I haven’t driven before. Looking forward to trying it out!
I finally got a chance to drive it. WOW! I posted that we’d taken it in trade and several people contacted me immediately to inquire. One of my Volt clients placed a deposit on it and will pick it up today. They are ordering their 2nd Volt later this year, so your Spark EV ended up in a good EV family!
That is fantastic to hear! The car is a blast, isn’t it? It definitely feels like a proto bolt.
I knew you guys would have no trouble selling it… but I didnt expect you would sell it in like 2 days! Impressive. I know the fiat dealer in mckinney brings in used 500e stock from california. Maybe ya’ll could do something similar with the Spark EV if demand is there!
Odd you should say that. I just asked the Preowned Manager to get Spark EVs, if he sees them at auction. There were multiple customers of mine that wanted that car!
Hah! Good call.
Well, let me know if you get any in stock. I may send 2 people to you and Tim. They both almost bought mine but the timing didn’t work out since the Bolt came earlier than I originally expected. Both were looking to buy a Spark EV later this summer or early fall.
I also talked to a guy about my Spark from out of state (OK I think) who preferred a 2015 or 2016 with CCS charging.
Serendipity often plays a big role in success. A very knowledgeable, passionate EV enthusiast happens to get a job at a car dealership owned by a rare businessman with the vision to see where the future of automobiles is headed. Voila!
Yep. I’m a very lucky guy!
So is Tom Durant.