Grossinger News

October 8, 2009

Dear Caroline,

Thank you so much for facilitating the six-month loan of the new Chevy van for our Green Youth Farm and Windy City Harvest programs.  It provides much-needed transportation of staff and materials to locations throughout the Chicago area.

These outstanding programs serve high-school students and young adults from underserved areas of the city and give them an opportunity to break out of a cycle of poverty and unemployment.  It is inspiring how involved the participants become, how hard they work throughout the year, and the enormous pride they take in their accomplishments and knowledge.  The lessons they learn provide an important foundation for them and will benefit their community in the future.

With warm thanks,

Sophia Siskel

President and CEO

 Chicago Botanic Garden

The Grossinger Autogroup had a tremendous boost from the Cash for Clunkers program in August like most dealers across the country.  Now that the program is over, its time to get back to business and continue to offer great values to Illinois car shoppers. 

According to the NHTSA Illinois car sales resulted in $143,613,000 in stimulus money from the nearly $3 billion allotted to the  CARS program. Toyota was the top manufacturer in new car sales from the CARS program followed by GM.

All our dealership locations had strong sales growth with Toyota and GM brands leading the way.  The Grossinger Autogroup has been very fortunate to have the #1 and #2 most purchased brands under our family run autogroup.  The program was a great moral boost for all our employees and local consumers benefitted the most. 

The final sales numbers for the Cash for Clunkers program can be downloaded in a PDF document.  (Download)

Back to Business at Grossinger

Consumers who did not qualify for the NHTSA Cash for Clunkers program are invited to visit the Grossinger family of stores in August while significant incentives are still being offered.  Hyundai, Chevrolet, and our GM portfolio of car have very attractive discounts and rebates available for purchases in August.

We will see which incentive packages will be available for September on or around the 3rd of the month.  We at the Grossinger Autogroup will be working hard to find the right car at the right price for all Illinois consumers that need reliable transportation.  That means will track down the best used car for our customers and since we have multiple used car lots, that means we have one of the best selections of pre-owned cars in the area.

If you are looking for a new or used car, just complete the form on this page and we will have a sales associate give you a call and assist you with finding the exact car that you want at a great price.

Caroline Grossinger is the operator of Grossinger Autoplex, Grossinger Hyundai, Grossinger Toyota and Grossinger Kia. All four dealerships, which have been family owned and operated for over 90 years, are located in Lincolnwood, Illinois just North of the city of Chicago. Grossinger Toyota and Grossinger Autoplex (carrying Cadillac, Pontiac, GMC, Buick, Suzuki and Pre-owned Vehicles represent two of the top ten largest dealerships by volume of vehicles sold according to the Illinois Cross Sell Report. Each location has just gone through a total renovation and now offers state-of-the-art sales and service facilities.

Caroline Grossinger and her brother Gary Grossinger operate all of the Grossinger Autoplex dealerships.  They represent the third generation of the oldest owned auto dealership in Illinois.  Their grandfather, Sam Grossinger emigrated from Europe and started the business in the early 1900s.  Sam started out as a tailor in a sweatshop and then partnered in a parking garage.  Next he sold tires. Finally, he became a “Hupmobile” auto dealer.  By the time the “Hupmobile” fell by the wayside, General Motors had become familiar with Sam’s business acumen and offered him a newly manufactured franchise called Pontiac.

His sons Paul and Irwin both grew up at the Dealership, which they nicknamed “The Garage.” As a result, they developed a work ethic, mode of operating, and a temperature much like their father’s.  While Paul’s priority was selling cars and assisting his father, real estate began to intrigue him.  He was allowed to pursue this passion when Irwin came on board to help manage the dealership full time.  Their close relationship and mutual respect was always apparent.

This mutual admiration society for their father continued until Paul and Irwin lost Sam a few months before Irwin’s first daughter was to be born.  Then Paul passed way at the untimely age of 44.  These losses devastated Irwin, and although he had been dealt a bad hand, he continued with admirable strength.  He was now responsible for the family legacy.

During the ensuing years business opportunity knocked often and Irwin always opened the door.  Always listening and evaluating, Irwin grew a single Pontiac dealership into the current multiple franchise business that is now the Grossinger Auto Group.  Shortly after moving the Grossinger Pontiac dealership to Skokie, Grossinger was awarded a Grossinger GMC franchise.  A few years later he took the additional opportunity to sell Grossinger Cadillacs in Lincolnwood. Even though Irwin vowed to never sell anything other than American cars, auto trends brought Volvo, Suzuki and Grossinger Toyota North into the Grossinger family.  Only a few years ago, Grossinger Buick was added to the GM Autoplex building and finally a Grossinger Chevy dealership was opened in Palatine.

Since Irwin’s passing in June of 2000, Gary Grossinger and Caroline Grossinger continued the Grossinger legacy with the same strength of character, same code of ethics and same mutual admiration and respect for one another as their family before them. They are very excited about the new opening of Grossinger Hyundai in Lincolnwood.  Their love of the business and their commitment to customer service continues from generations before them.  They will continue the tradition of the oldest family owned auto dealership in Illinois.

Caroline and Gary are also pleased to announce the opening of their family’s newest dealership, Grossinger Kia in Lincolnwood.

For more information on Grossinger Autoplex, visit http://www.grossinger.com/