One former Chrysler dealer is turning to India to fill his empty car lot:
For August Russo, owner of the Lochmoor Automotive Group in Detroit, losing his Chrysler franchise pushed him to focus solely on a new franchise he’s been working on for six months.
Russo has one of three local franchises to sell Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. trucks. The India-based OEM is distributing vehicles through Alpharetta, Ga.-based Global Vehicles USA Inc., with 330 franchises planned in the United States and sales to start in October.
Russo originally planned to sell the diesel trucks out of a building on a lot separate from his Chrysler operation. Now the trucks will be sold next to his used car lot.
“It was on the back burner, but I guess now it’s on the front burner,” Russo said.