PD News

March 11, 2010

Dealership has new brand

By Jerry Lynott jlynott@timesleader.com
Business Writer
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PITTSTON TWP. – The new car business isn’t what it used to be and neither is the Ken Pollock dealership on state Route 315.

The Chevrolet cars and trucks that used to fill the lot have been replaced by Suzuki vehicles.

The switch was made because of the brand’s reputation and the economy, according to Murad Elbattah, manager of the dealership.

Customers want value and Suzuki offers affordable and dependable models, he said. Two new vehicles were sold Wednesday morning.

“Especially the way the economy is. They’re going to save as much money as they can,” said Elbattah.

His comments were the kind Koichi Suzuki wanted to hear.

The executive vice president of the Brea, Calif.-based American Suzuki Motor Corp. visited the dealership and toured the showroom, lot and service area with other company officials.

It’s important to meet and speak directly with dealers about what happens in their stores, Suzuki said.

He wants to know whether people are wary of purchasing a new car in light of the recent round of recalls by Toyota for unexpected acceleration complaints.

“That’s our concern, too,” he said.

The carmaker introduced a brand-new luxury model, the Kizashi, and its available all-wheel drive would be a great feature for winters in Northeastern Pennsylvania, he noted. On the showroom floor, a fully loaded model with eight airbags listed for nearly $27,000.

Pollock’s was one of the newest in the company’s growing list of dealerships. It opened just four months ago, Suzuki said.

Customer satisfaction for the brand is growing, too. In February, 50 people brought their vehicles in for service, Suzuki said.

“Pennsylvania is one of the strongest states for Suzuki,” he said.

Besides Pollock’s Suzuki, there are two other dealers in Northeastern Pennsylvania – Ray Price in the Poconos and Chermak’s in Clarks Summit.

“It’s a very good market for us,” said Philip Castle, regional general manager of Suzuki in Mechanicsburg.

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