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Carousel Motor Group acquires Hudson Ford

Carousel Motor Group, a group of dealerships with a distinctive portfolio of automotive names, announced today that it has acquired Hudson Ford, the number one selling Ford dealership in Wisconsin for the last 5 years.

The acquisition of the Hudson Ford dealership, located at 2020 Crest View Drive, Hudson, WI, near I-94 and Carmichael Road, marks Carousel Motor Group’s first Ford dealership in its portfolio and entry into the Wisconsin market.

“We are not only privileged to represent the Ford Brand, but to continue building on Hudson Ford’s exceptional reputation in the community – – this is a true testament to the highly talented team who have built such a great culture. This acquisition is a natural fit within our portfolio of reputable brands and reinforces our plan for continued strategic growth and value creation. We truly appreciate Mark Swelland, CEO & President of Hudson Ford, his business partner Gary Embretson and Jonathan Nissly, COO and GM, for both their leadership in making this such a fantastic dealership and for entrusting us with its future,” said Chase Hawkins, Carousel Motor Group’s CEO and President.

“Carousel Motor Group mirrors the values of Hudson Ford. They really care about their employees and customers, and we are excited to have them guide this organization to the next level,” said Mark Swelland, CEO & President of Hudson Ford.

Hudson Ford sells both new and pre-owned vehicles in a recently remodeled facility. The dealership also includes an Abra full-service collision center, that is aluminum certified, and an on-site detail center, servicing drivers throughout St. Croix County and eastern Minnesota.

Ford has the highest loyalty ranking among truck brands, according to J.D. Powers, and for the second time in a row, Ford is ranked the top automotive brand in the World Benchmarking Alliances 2022 Corporate Human Rights – – making it one of the most valuable global brands.

The acquisition of Hudson Ford brings the total number of new vehicle franchised Dealerships owned and operated by Carousel Motor Group to nine, along with Carousel Online, a direct-to-consumer pre-owned automotive ecommerce site.

January 5, 2023

Carousel Motor Group Launches Carousel Online, An Automotive Ecommerce Site

homepage for carouselonline.com

MINNEAPOLIS, May 23, 2022 — Carousel Motor Group today announced the launch of Carousel Online www.CarouselOnline.com, an e-commerce platform for buying and selling pre-owned vehicles. As consumers continue to benefit from the convenience of making purchases online, Carousel Online is redefining the pre-owned vehicle-buying experience by putting the driver before everything else.

Carousel has teamed up with Cox Automotive, Inc. to create an e-commerce platform that simplifies the online buying and selling experience. The buying process is completely digital, using vehicle transparency through 360-degree virtual tours, sharing detailed vehicle information, and providing concierge product experts right at the buyer’s fingertips. The car buyer can virtually obtain trusted trade-in evaluations, precise monthly payments, and no haggle financing. Aftermarket insurance products can be added during multiple points of the online check out process allowing complete payments inclusive of all components. The process culminates with online deal paperwork and home delivery as additional key features offered by Carousel Online. “We’ve taken the lessons and wisdom from our brick-and-mortar dealerships and translated that to a better online experience – and we will continue to research and reinvent to ensure vehicle buying just keeps getting easier and more enjoyable,” said Angie Gustafson, Vice President, Customer Experience.

As online buying continues to evolve, there has been a growing number of automotive e-commerce companies entering the market. “Many of these startups have hurdles to overcome from title processing and registration to delivery delays, or the inability to fully transact online. Unfortunately, this just creates more frustration for buyers,” said Chase Hawkins, President and CEO, Carousel Motor Group. “We have the operational experience to provide our customers with the convenience and ease of a premium digital experience, in an otherwise non-premium space.”

In addition to the friendly and frictionless experience, Carousel Online’s commitment to offering vehicles of a higher standard sets it apart from other retailers. This comes from decades of experience in procuring and servicing premium vehicles. “That commitment and trust come from the talented people behind our brands,” said Nicole Pearce, Senior Vice President, Human Resources. “Our people are the reason for our strong reputation and loyalty in the marketplace.” Carousel Motor Group continues to receive top dealer recognition and awards for customer service and employee recognition including winning the Star Tribune’s Top Workplace in 2021, and Top Workplace USA in 2022.

About Carousel Motor Group

Carousel Motor Group is an operating company of the Pohlad Companies, a diverse group of businesses united by a proud legacy of creating value and opportunities for our employees, businesses, and communities. Formed in May 2008, Carousel Motor Group operates eight Twin Cities automotive dealerships, including Twin Cities Performance Ferrari, Coon Rapids Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Audi Minneapolis, Audi St. Paul, BMW of Minnetonka, Chevrolet North Branch, Porsche of St. Paul, and Porsche of Minneapolis. To learn more, visit www.carouselonline.com.

June 3, 2022 | Link

Carousel Motor Group Brings Ferrari to the Twin Cities

INNEAPOLIS, July 12, 2021 – Carousel Motor Group (CMG), an operating company of the Pohlad Companies, today announced it has added Ferrari to its premium line of automotive dealerships. Twin Cities Performance, which opens this month, is one of just 45 Ferrari dealerships in the United States and will serve as the authorized dealer for new and pre-owned sales, service and official parts and merchandise.

Consistently ranked among the strongest brands in the world, according to Brand Finance, Ferrari’s presence adds some power to the region’s car scene. The newly renovated, 15,500 square foot facility will provide an immersive customer experience complete with state-of-the-art amenities including a 12×18 foot digital display wall, atelier design studio and customer lounge. The 2,500 square foot experiential showroom will prominently feature the latest models and the 5,700 square foot service center is equipped with five service bays and the area’s only Ferrari-authorized technicians.

“We are both proud and humbled, as a family-owned Minnesota-based business, to represent the iconic Ferrari brand in Minneapolis. Both existing and future Ferrari customers can rest assured they will get the very best levels of customer service they may already have become accustomed to in purchasing and servicing their vehicles across our other dealerships,” said Chase Hawkins, President & CEO at Carousel Motor Group.

“We are pleased to welcome the Pohlad Companies represented by the Carousel Motor Group to the Ferrari family, and wish Chase and his team much success in representing the Ferrari brand in this vibrant and important market where we have an established and loyal client base”, said Matteo Torre, President of Ferrari North America.

Twin Cities Performance will be open for sales Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The service and parts departments will be open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The all-new Ferrari store is along the premium auto corridor at 9191 Wayzata Boulevard. For more information visit www.minneapolis.ferraridealers.com or call (763)-330-1080.

About Carousel Motor Group

Carousel Motor Group is an operating company of the Pohlad Companies, a diverse group of businesses united by a proud legacy of creating value and opportunities for our employees, businesses and communities. Formed in May 2008, Carousel Motor Group operates eight Twin Cities automotive dealerships, including Twin Cities Performance, Coon Rapids Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Audi Minneapolis, Audi St. Paul, BMW of Minnetonka, Chevrolet North Branch, Porsche of St. Paul, and Porsche of Minneapolis. To learn more, visit www.carouselmotorgroup.com.

Pohlad Companies Announces Promotion of Chase Hawkins

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 10, 2020- The Pohlad Companies, a privately held, diverse portfolio of organizations spanning multiple industries and sectors, today announced that it has aligned two of its consumer-facing businesses under the leadership of Chase Hawkins.

Hawkins has been promoted to CEO and President for Carousel Motor Group (CMG) and also has been named Senior Vice President – Retail Operations at Pohlad Companies. In this dual role, Hawkins will oversee both CMG and JB Hudson Jewelers, leveraging strategies between two of Pohlad Companies’ retail businesses. As part of this structural alignment, Nick Pechman, President, JB Hudson Jewelers, will report to Hawkins.

Hawkins brings 30 years of global leadership experience in automotive sales, service, marketing, product planning and pricing. He joined CMG in 2016 and was promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer of CMG in 2019. Hawkins received his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Natal, Durban in his native South Africa. He has lived or worked in countries on five continents.

April 24, 2020

Pohlad Companies Announces Leadership Changes at Carousel Motor Group and PaR Systems

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., January 30, 2019 — The Pohlad Companies today announced that effective February 4, 2019, Tom Pohlad, president and COO of Carousel Motor Group (CMG), will become CEO of PaR Systems LLC, a leading provider of automation, robotics and specialized material handling solutions. The Pohlad Companies acquired PaR Systems in October 2017 from MML Capital Partners. Tom succeeds Mark Wrightsman who has served as CEO of PaR Systems since 1999, successfully guiding the company’s growth and performance for 20 years. Tom joins a highly capable PaR executive team. Mark will remain on the board of PaR Systems and serve as an advisor to Tom and the company.

“We would like to thank Mark for his years of outstanding service and leadership of PaR Systems,” said Bert Colianni, CEO, Pohlad Companies.

With Tom’s departure from Carousel Motor Group, Chase Hawkins, vice president Porsche brand, will become president and COO, broadening his strategic, financial and functional responsibilities for the business, while maintaining his role at Porsche. General managers of CMG’s Audi Minneapolis and St. Paul, BMW of Minnetonka, Coon Rapids Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and North Branch Chevrolet dealerships will continue to lead their respective businesses and will report to Chase.

“We are excited by these leadership changes which will capitalize on the energy and creativity among the smart, talented and passionate teams at both operating companies,” said Colianni. “We are confident that, under Tom’s direction, PaR will build on its strong market position, continuing to advance its breakthrough work in automation, robotics and specialty material handling, and equally certain that Carousel Motor Group will continue to thrive and maintain its superior brand stewardship and exceptional customer experience under Chase’s leadership.”

Tom has served as president and COO of Carousel Motor Group since 2016. Previously, he served in a variety of roles within CMG, including General Manager Porsche of Minneapolis and Audi Minneapolis. Prior to joining Carousel Motor Group in 2010, Tom held roles in Pohlad Companies ranging from Commercial Real Estate to Major League Baseball to Pepsi Bottling. Tom joined the Pohlad family business after graduating from Boston College in 2002.

Chase has built considerable industry knowledge during his nearly three decades of experience in automotive sales, service, marketing, product planning and pricing roles, including Group General Manager of Motor Werks Auto Group and U.S. and international assignments with General Motors, in addition to his three years at CMG. Chase received his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Natal, Durban in his native South Africa. He has lived or worked in countries on five continents.

January 30, 2019

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