Zeigler Subaru of Fort Wayne Breaks Record One Month After Zeigler Auto Group Acquisition

Zeigler Subaru of Fort Wayne Breaks Record in First Full Month after Zeigler Auto Group Acquisition

With new owners, a new GM, and the introduction of Zeigler's World-Class Culture, Zeigler Subaru of Fort Wayne has a new outlook on customer service and community-breaking a new customer record just one month after its purchase by Zeigler Auto Group.

Fort Wayne, Ind. (October 10, 2023) Zeigler Auto Group's newest acquisition Zeigler Subaru of Fort Wayne has broken a new customer record just one month after being acquired by the Kalamazoo-based dealer group.

"All of us here at Zeigler Subaru of Fort Wayne are very happy to be a part of the Zeigler Automotive Group. With this being the very first Zeigler store to enter the Fort Wayne market, we are all very excited and have jumped at the opportunity to be the "tip of the spear" for the Zeigler Automotive Group in this market. We have big plans for this store and this market. We want to bring something to the table that the people of Fort Wayne have been stripped of for some time, the ultimate automotive buying experience! We are on a fast track of spreading the Zeigler reputation to the city of Fort Wayne and the surrounding areas," said Bryan Brudi, GM of Zeigler Subaru of Fort Wayne.

Brudi says that when it came to transitioning the store into a Zeigler store, the auto group wanted to make big changes fast. One of the first changes made was cleaning up the lot and the landscaping. With curve appeal being a big part of drawing off-the-street customers in, fixing up the outward appearance provided a needed face-lift to the dealership. Zeigler Subaru of Fort Wayne also has plans to renovate in the future further enhancing its customer experience. Details of renovations to the current facility will be released at a later date

 

However, the most significant change came from employee training and onboarding. Before Zeigler officially acquired the store, Brudi says employees frequently voiced concerns regarding the lack of past training and processes. Taking this feedback to heart, Zeigler provided its World-Class onboarding for sales and service staff to ensure that current and new customers received the Ultimate Automotive Experience.

In the first month alone these processes led to Zeigler Subaru of Fort Wayne breaking the all-time new car sales record for this location. The previous record was for a 62 new unit goal and the dealer sold 63 new units in the first month out of the gate.  

However, what Brudi believes is most important was that Zeigler's onboarding process was able to lay down the foundation for building a positive culture. To him, and to everyone across the auto group, it is one of the the most significant components, if not the most significant component,  to any business being successful.

"We work on this every day and make sure not only the leaders believe that this is the best place to work, but everybody within these walls of this dealership. The leadership team has to believe, if they do not buy in, it is very hard to get the rest of the team to buy in. We have all bought in!"

The Subaru dealer also supports the community through various service initiatives, with the Humane Society of Fort Wayne being a big focus this month during Subaru Loves Pets. Zeigler Subaru of Fort Wayne will serve as an official sponsor of the Humane Society's Pawject Runway event, held at the Coliseum in Fort Wayne on Saturday, October 21, 2023

Besides this, the local dealership will also be hosting an on-site adoption event for the Humane Society of Fort Wayne on Saturday, October 28, 2023.

For more information on Zeigler Subaru of Fort Wayne, please visit zeiglersubaruoffortwayne.com.

About Zeigler Auto Group

Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S. with 84 franchises across 41 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Vehicle brands represented include all of the domestic and the majority of the imported manufacturers.

Besides its extensive automotive portfolio, the organization owns and operates Zeigler Motorsports, an 85,000-square-foot motorsports dealership and action park, offering 19 different powersports brands, plus its own onsite restaurant: Trak Houz Bar & Grill. Additionally, Zeigler Motorsports houses the Elevate Leadership & Team Building Academy, an executive training company.

The Kalamazoo-based dealer group also owns and operates Zeigler Pre-Owned of Chicago, three Byrider franchises, three finance companies, several insurance firms, and a leasing firm.

Founded in 1975, the organization employs over 2,500 people, ranking among the top 1% of automotive dealers in the nation with estimated annual sales of $2.2 billion for 2022.

The family-owned and operated company is well known for its commitment to both customer service and employee satisfaction. Zeigler is regularly recognized as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation, also earning similar accolades in Wisconsin, Chicago, and Michigan. Besides these prestigious accolades, Zeigler is also one of Glassdoor's 100 Best Places to Work in the U.S. for 2023, and among Glassdoor's top 10 U.S. companies for work-life balance.