Shearer buys automobile franchises in Burlington
Toolbox
By Bruce Edwards STAFF WRITER - Published: July 8, 2009
The owner of Shearer Honda in Rutland has acquired Lewis Motors in South Burlington.
Bill Shearer announced Tuesday that he purchased Lewis Motors at 1325 Shelburne Road adding the Acura, Audi and Volkswagen brands to his other dealerships.
The deal closed at the end of June. David Lewis is being retained to assist in the initial transition and as a consultant on future projects.
The former Lewis dealerships will remain at the same location but each brand will have its own identity. The names will change to Shearer Acura, Audi South Burlington, and Volkswagen South Burlington.
Shearer said Lewis Motors was at a point where its ability to expand was limited by space and personnel. He said his business is in a position to grow the three new makes of vehicles as well as grow his existing product line.
"We think we are well-positioned with four facilities and eight brands to adapt to the new economy that's coming at us," said Shearer, who also owns Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac and GMC dealerships in South Burlington.
Lewis Motors is in close proximity to the other dealerships.
Shearer said the new economic environment means there will be more consolidation of dealerships and more dealerships closing across the country.
With the acquisition of the Acura franchise, a division of Honda, Shearer said having the Honda dealership in Rutland will benefit Rutland-area Acura owners.
"I think we'll be able to service them and certainly make it easier and save them the drive," he said. "We're servicing a lot of Acura owners in Rutland right now."
Shearer said despite the downturn in the economy and the auto industry, the Honda franchise in Rutland is doing well. He said Honda was not as heavily dependent on the truck and SUV market when that market collapsed.
With the acquisition, Shearer's dealerships employ 200 people.
Alex Lewis founded Lewis Motors in 1974 as a Volkswagen dealership, adding the Audi franchise in 1976 and the Acura dealership in 1995. David Lewis joined the company in 1987 and purchased Lewis Motors in 1996.
In addition to Shearer Honda, the Shearer family owns Shearer Chevrolet, Shearer Buick GMC Cadillac and Direct Autobody, a state-of-the-art collision facility, in South Burlington.
bruce.edwards@rutlandherald.com
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