Volvo joins the family Volvo of Louisville moves into a new,state-of-the-art sales and service facility at Swope Discount AutoCenter. BY SANDY JOHN W For more info > Volvo of Louisville 22 #5 Swope Discount AutoCenter I-64 and S.Hurstbourne Parkway Louisville,KY 40299 (502) 493-3333 www.volvooflouisville.com SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS HEN SAM SWOPE AUTO GROUP WAS approached about purchasing Volvo of Louisville, they were eager to have the franchise. “It’s an excellent automobile, renowned for its safety and reliability. Volvo made a wonderful addition to our lineup,” says Patti Swope, vice president of Swope Auto Group. The former owner’s facility needed updating, however — it was outdated and too small. Swope Auto Group has built a new, state-of-theart facility for Volvo of Louisville — located at the Swope Discount AutoCenter, at I-64 and South Hurstbourne Parkway near Sam Swope BMW and Lexus of Louisville. According to Swope, the location is more convenient and customers have a more pleasant experience, whether they are buying a car or having one serviced. Shoppers will find 80 to 100 new Volvos on the lot, along with 30 to 50 used cars. About half the pre-owned vehicles are certified, having been checked for 130 strict requirements, says David Alkire, general manager of Volvo of Louisville. “We invest about $1,200 to $1,600 per car to bring it up to the certification standard.” Once the car has met the requirements, the manufacturer extends the warranty, resulting in one of the most generous warranties in the industry, he adds. The service department is much larger and more modern than at the old facility. With 18 service bays, up from just 10 in the former location, car owners will have shorter wait times when their cars need maintenance. Volvos stay on the road for a long time, so it’s not unusual to find Volvos around Louisville with more than 300,000 miles on them. Owners tend to develop strong relationships with the service department. Volvo of Louisville encourages these strong relationships by assigning customers to a service advisor, who works with a select group of technicians. The service advisor acts as the contact point between automobile owners and technicians, getting to know the owners and making sure their preferences (call “Volvo made a wonderful addition to our lineup,” says Patti Swope, vice president of Swope Auto Group. before you replace a part, wash the car while it’s in for service, etc.) are followed. Customers like the system, because they don’t have to explain their preferences each time they come in, and because they know whom to ask for when they call to follow up on a service order. Building relationships like this helps “take the sting out of bringing your car in for work,” Alkire adds. Volvo is renowned for safety, having pioneered the three-point safety belt, energy-absorbing body structure and other engineering marvels. The company continues to exceed the competition in safety and longevity, and that contributes to the vehicle’s popularity among women with families, Alkire says. While Volvo has a reputation for quality, so does Sam Swope Auto Group. Within the last year, it was named best new car dealer in the annual LEO Readers Choice Awards, and best car dealer in the “Best of Louisville” awards from Louisville Magazine. The family-owned firm was also honored by the Better Business Bureau with a “Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics,” given to companies that show a commitment to ethical practices in all aspects of business. “We’ve been in the community for 53 years, and we have a tradition of taking care of our customers,” says Swope. “We’re owner-operators, and members of the family are at the dealership every day, talking to customers and listening to what they want.” Sam Swope Auto Group is also very supportive of community groups and activities, giving both financially and by serving on leadership boards. ◆ THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE OF KENTUCKIANA