Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SANDY -- Friday begins the 2010 Utah International Auto Expo. The show runs from now through Monday night at the South Towne Expo Center in Sandy.
When the doors opened at 11 a.m., customers came streaming into the huge exhibit hall. Things got underway with the annual induction of several dealers into the New Car Dealers Hall of Fame. Three were honored for 2010:
- M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints started working for his dad at Ballard Motor Company. In 1955, Elder Ballard opened his own Volvo dealership. He later teamed up with Nate Wade and eventually sold his share to Wade when he was called as an LDS General Authority.
- L. Mitchell Lunt also started working at his father's dealership. Lunt Motor Co. was started in 1934 in Cedar City. Lunt Motors has been associated with Chrysler for 75 years.
- Robert Garff is chairman of Garff Enterprises. Founded by his father, Ken Garff, in 1932, the company now has 56 auto franchises in six states.
Brent Bunkall, of Larry H. Miller Ford, Lincoln and Mercury, says the past year has been very educational.
"It's one of those years I'm glad it's over," Bunkall says.
Dealer after dealer told KSL News that. After a year of cutting costs, reducing inventories, slashing profit margins and generally just "treading water" to get by; the new year and this new show brings renewed optimism.
"I wouldn't necessarily say we're ‘there' yet, but the best part about it is the general public and those within the auto industry feel like it's coming," Brown says.
"We anticipate 2010 to be an uptick, gradual growth; but it will be growth, and that's the important part," says Craig Bickmore, executive director of the New Car Dealers of Utah organization.
The auto expo is still as big as it ever was. There are nearly 400 vehicles on display, brought in by more than 25 manufacturers: big, small, hybrid, fuel-efficient models, trucks, SUV's, crossovers.
And for the very first time, the expo is showcasing a display of used cars. That, too, is reflective of the changing economic times in the industry.
"It may not be in the budget for everyone to purchase a new car, but there are some great pre-owned vehicles here that people can look at so that they can see everything that's available," Bickmore says.
Dealers also say there's a pent-up demand out there. Many people have held on to their vehicles a lot longer then they planned on, and so they're ready to make a move now. Plus, with all the manufacturer's incentives and price reductions, dealers say this is a great time to buy.
The expo is a non-selling show, so car lovers can come and sit in the seats and kick the tires of some great cars.
KSL is offering some Olympic giveaways at the expo. People can stop by the KSL booth to enter to win prizes including a television, jackets, a skeleton ride at the Olympic Park in Park City and skating at the Utah Olympic Oval.
E-mail: kmccord@ksl.com
