“Everyone wants to keep in touch, and the inside of the vehicles are reflecting what the consumer wants.” —John White
“Business has been good and the economy seems to be plugging along,” says John White, sales manager and vice president of operations for Smothers European Volvo and Mercedes-Benz of Santa Rosa. “People are still really interested in new car models,” says White, whose dealership offers roughly 75 types of Mercedes-Benz models to chose from. It has the CLA now; it’s slightly smaller than the C class, with the C class continuing to be its best seller. For 2015, the C class has been totally redesigned with a much more luxurious interior and smoother ride. It’s also offering a new electric B class car, as well as the GLA, a small crossover vehicle new this last year, with more models to come in the future.On the Volvo front, Smothers European has more exciting news. Volvo’s XC 90, which was available from 2003 to 2014, looked very much the same all those years. However, in May 2016, there will be an XC 90 that’s been completely redesigned with a four-cylinder engine and class-leading gas mileage. In the late summer/early fall, it will also be available as a dual engine and will have a fully electric mode, fully gas mode or combined mode said to generate 400 horsepower.
“The technological advances of cars are happening by leaps and bounds. Everyone wants to keep in touch, and the inside of the vehicles are reflecting what the consumer wants. The electronics are becoming very technologically savvy,” says White.
When asked what sets Smothers European apart from other high-end dealerships, White is proud to say the length of time its employees have worked for the business is a contributing factor to the dealership’s success. Most employees are long-time staff members; for example, in the Volvo showroom, 18 years is the average length of employment. On the Volvo side, the sales crew knows the product well and stands behind it, and on the Mercedes-Benz side, the sales force consists of friendly people who really know the product. The entire crew at Smothers European is varied in terms of their different personal and professional backgrounds, and everyone is dedicated to making the customers happy.
“Our customers don’t have an average car buying experience. We have lots of repeat customers who return because of the service they receive and the quality of the product delivered,” says White. Another thing he believes sets Smothers European apart from other dealers is the fact that there’s almost always someone from the family on the showroom floor. From Jerry Reid, general manager, to Brian Velyvis, vice president, and White himself, there’s always someone who can make a decision to help clients get what they really want, in a quick and efficient manner.
