What is the Hendrick Automotive Group?

What do Duluth, GA, Raleigh, NC, and Austin, TX, all have in common (in addition to over 90 other communities throughout the country’s southern and western regions)? They are all home to car dealerships owned and operated by the Hendrick Automotive Group—the largest privately held automotive dealership group in the nation. The group boasts a blend of premium new car sellers as well as some of the best used car dealerships in the country.

In total, Hendrick Automotive Group has more than 130 franchises, over 90 dealerships, and 27 brands they sell both in-person and online. With currently more than 30,000 new and used cars and trucks in stock, the Hendrick Automotive Group knows how to move cars, having sold close to 206,000 vehicles in 2018 in addition to having serviced another 2.5 million.

If you have driven by Rick Hendrick Buick GMC Duluth and wondered just what the dealership was about and what the history behind it was, read on to learn the story of Rick Hendrick and the Hendrick Automotive Group.

A Bright Start

From a young age Rick Hendrick was in love with cars and showed unbelievable promise when it came to both building and selling them. At 14, Hendrick built his own V8 engine and placed it inside a 31’ Chevy he had also rebuilt. By the age of 16, Hendrick had coupled his love for fixing cars with his business acumen and was repairing broken down vehicles and selling them for a tidy profit.

After graduating from North Carolina State University, Hendrick, at the age of 23, became the general sales manager of a BMW/Mercedes dealership. Two years later in 1975 Hendrick had the opportunity to buy his first dealership, becoming the youngest Chevrolet Dealership owner in the country.

Shortly thereafter, Hendrick started buying more dealerships and in 1978 he bought City Chevrolet in Charlotte, NC, which eventually became his flagship store and headquarters of his ever-expanding empire.

Throughout these early years, Hendrick Automotive Group experienced unparalleled success and massive growth. Every dealership Hendrick touched became instantly successful, increasing sales by millions of dollars from one year to the next.

Decades of Growth

Throughout the late 1970’s into the 80’s and 90’s, Hendrick Automotive Group continued to expand into new markets and new brands. Over the years the group added dealerships in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, Missouri, Texas, and even as far away as California. As time went on new franchises included Toyota, Mercedes, Volvo, BMW, Buick, GMC, and many more.

On numerous occasions Hendrick himself was approached by carmakers and asked to take over struggling dealerships. The results were always the same. Hendrick and his team would assume ownership of a dealership, implement various organizational changes, and watch the new dealership takeoff.

In addition to selling cars, Hendrick also established Hendrick Motorsports during this time in addition to a number of charitable organizations such as the Hendrick Marrow Program and the Hendrick Family Foundation. The former was of special importance to Hendrick as he was a leukemia survivor himself.

The Hendrick Advantage

When those both inside and outside the automotive world ask about the secret to the Hendrick Automotive Group’s success, there is probably no clearer answer than the group’s mission statement and the Hendrick Advantage.

The mission statement reads:

“Hendrick Automotive’s mission is to be the premier quality vehicle retailer in the world, providing the best opportunities for our team members, customers, communities, and the manufacturers we represent.”

The group’s emphasis on being the best, not only for team members and manufacturers, but for customers and communities has made a world of difference in their approach to selling new and pre-owned cars and trucks.

In order to fulfill their mission, Hendrick Automotive Group, and each and every dealership it runs, ascribes to what is known as the Hendrick Advantage—essentially the core values of the company.

At the very top of the list of core values is a commitment to servant leadership. As the group’s website puts it, “Servant Leaders consciously put the needs of others before their own, because to serve people is [to] value them.”

Next on the list is teamwork based on trust and respect. This core value speaks to the group’s commitment to diversity and achieving at a high level.

For integrity, the Hendrick Advantage’s third core value, the group has this to say, “Being honest and transparent with people, in an effort to do the right thing within the letter and spirit of the law, drives every action we take and every decision we make.”

The group’s “commitment to customer enthusiasm,” is an exercise in empathy as every Hendrick Automotive employee seeks to put themselves in the shoes of the customer so as to optimize the customer experience.

Hendrick’s passion for winning is instilled into the group in the next core value, and has influenced its people to be the best “not the biggest.” This pursuit of excellence has marked the group for years and signals a commitment to treating people well.

The second to last core value is a dedication to accountability at all levels and is described this way, “Taking ownership of our actions and our decisions allows us to grow as individuals, and support each other as a team.”

Finally, the Hendrick Advantage’s final core value is a testament to the group’s desire to always get better by “softening our hearts as well as our egos.”

 

These core values are crucial to the group’s success, and their importance cannot be overemphasized. If you haven’t stopped by Rick Hendrick Buick GMC Duluth to experience the Hendrick Advantage for yourself, come in anytime, and you’ll understand how it has allowed Hendrick Automotive Group to become the premier quality vehicle retailer in the world.

Rick Hendrick Buick GMC Duluth

Rick Hendrick Buick GMC Duluth, located just outside Atlanta, has been a part of the Hendrick Automotive Group for years and is as committed to the Hendrick Advantage and furthering the history of this illustrious company as any other dealership in the company. Our knowledgeable sales associates and skilled mechanics take their commitment to customer service and servant leadership seriously. We never take the easy way out and hold each other accountable to excellence.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to stop in for a visit, check out our testimonials page to get a taste of the level of service we offer at Rick Hendrick Buick GMC Duluth. Our customers are our number one priority and we work to get you the best price for your new or pre-owned Buick and GMC cars and trucks.

As the Hendrick Automotive Group history has unfolded over the last 40 plus years, it has been a privilege to be a part of the largest and most well respected privately held automotive dealership group in the nation. And at Rick Hendrick Buick GMC Duluth, we make it our goal to be the best used car dealership in the state.

When you are shopping for a great pre-owned Buick or GMC car or truck, contact us or come to Rick Hendrick Buick GMC Duluth and we guarantee you will experience the Hendrick Advantage that has made the Hendrick Automotive Group the success story that it is. We look forward to seeing you soon.