New owner takes the wheel at Hempfield Township dealership | News

HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP – After taking ownership earlier this month of Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Greenville, Andrew Sherman is making changes.

“We’re going to be pouring millions of dollars in improvements here,’’ said Sherman, whose family purchased the dealership. With the purchase, from previous owner Coy Price, the new dealership took a new name.

Planned upgrades over the next several years include a new facade and a sharper looking interior.

Like almost everyone else in car sales, keeping up with inventory is tough. But that’s going to change, Sherman said. A batch of 35 new vehicles is expected in June.

“We’ll quickly post them on our website’’ he added.

COVID-19 created lean car inventories. A global shortage of computer chips shifted production into idle.

Taiwan is the largest manufacturer of computer chips, which have enormous responsibilities in running cars such as their air bags, emissions, windshield wiper motors and power steering.

In 2020 worldwide production of light vehicles, such as sedans, SUVs and pickup trucks, totaled 75 million, compared to 89 million — a drop of more than 15% —in 2019, according to Barron’s magazine. Production remained roughly unchanged in 2021, creating meager used car supplies. 

Adding more technicians also is in the works for the dealership.

“And we’ll have vehicle loaners if we need to keep someone’s car,’’ Sherman said.

The family started in the car business over 50 years ago with the late Wayne Sherman, Andrew’s grandfather.

Now headed by patriarch Steven Sherman, Andrew’s father, the family also owns Lakeview Ford in Conneaut, Ohio, Dean Honda in Pleasant Hills near Pittsburgh and Pre-owned Cars by the Dean in West Mifflin, also near Pittsburgh. Other family members also are involved in the business.

In looking at the regional market, Sherman said around 60 percent of Lakeview Ford’s sales are pickup trucks.

“And we’re expecting to have a lot of pickup truck sales here,’’ Sherman said of the Hempfield Township dealership.

The dealership will add enclosed bays to the building, so customers will no longer have to contend with foul weather.

“We want people to have an enjoyable experience here,” Sherman said.