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

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/

LINCOLNWOOD, IL – Although all is not well for General Motors Corp., “it is an exciting time to be a GM dealer,” says Caroline Grossinger, president of Grossingler Autoplex here.

Her family dealership business includes Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC and Pontiac franchises.

Despite its current woes of rising costs, shrinking market share and an unprecedented drop to junk-bond status, Grossinger is an optimistic retail representative of the world’s largest auto maker.

“GM is doing a lot of things right lately,” she says. “They talk to their dealers like never before. There’s good support from zone managers like we haven’t seen in years. The top echelon is speaking to dealers and asking for feedback. It’s being done like no other car line.

“Quality is where GM has made huge strides. It will take a while for people to realize that. I’m confident GM will get back its market share.”

As for the auto maker’s financial troubles, Grossinger, who holds a degree in economics, says, “I’m not saying those aren’t serious concerns, but they aren’t insurmountable either.”

Here are her takes on GM products as well as three import brands her dealerships sell:

Pontiac: “The new G6 (midsize sedan) is an outstanding product with so many attributes and a competitive price point of $17,995. The Solstice convertible will arrive with a price like nothing out there.

“Problems? We didn’t have the right product for such a long time.”

Dealer Caroline Grossinger says Buick LaCrosse is generating a lot of showroom traffic.

Buick: “We’re getting real traffic with the new LaCrosse (a midsize sedan). Younger buyers are looking at it. The Lucerne (a fullsize sedan) shows promise. The Terraza (crossover sport van) needs more publicity, more public awareness.

“Buick owners are the most loyal in the world, but again as with Pontiac, we haven’t had the product until recently.”

Cadillac: “The CTS (sports sedan) has outstanding styling, value and quality. It is exciting and really performs. The SRX is a great SUV, but people ask, ‘What is it?’ For some reason, some people are not aware of it.”

GMC: “GMC makes outstanding products. I typically drive a GMC demo. The division offers among the best SUVs in the market and offers so much to so many different people.

“But it’s time for a new product line. The quality is there, but it’s time for restyling.”

Toyota: “I’m a huge fan of Toyota. The way they price, the way they don’t let product get stale. They price right from the start. It’s not about relying heavily on incentives or on correcting a pricing mistake.

“They don’t rest on past laurels. The new-generation Avalon Limited is a $35,000 car that’s comparable to a $45,000 luxury model. And quality for Toyota is not hit or miss.”

Suzuki: “Good product line with good value. But Suzuki needs to spend more money to have more people know their products. A lot of people don’t know of Forenza (a compact) or Verona (a sedan). Individual dealers can’t spend the amount of marketing money that’s necessary for national brand awareness.”

Volvo: “It has a very loyal customer base. The new S40 (sedan) seems like it will bring a lot to the table. Volvo is simplifying its number of models and trim lines. It will be easier for customers to understand.”