The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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  • Warren Hylton, left, and Ernie Davis recently purchased Beckley Auto Mall on Robert C. Byrd Drive. They have renamed the dealership Beckley Buick-GMC Auto Mall Inc. and, pending the weather, plan to have a grand opening at the end of March. Christopher J. Jackson

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March 6, 2010

Davis, Hylton purchase Beckley auto dealership

Former Beckley Auto Mall renamed Beckley Buick-GMC Auto Mall Inc.

By Christopher J. Jackson Register-Herald Reporter

BECKLEY — While many car dealers were just happy to see 2009 come to a close after horrendous auto sales, two local dealers were thinking expansion.

Longtime friends and now business partners Ernie Davis and Warren Hylton purchased Beckley Auto Mall from the Hudson Family Group and began operating the dealership now known as Beckley Buick-GMC Auto Mall Inc. in December. Davis and Hylton are equal owners of Hometown Hyundai and Hometown Subaru-Kia.

Despite staggering auto sales last year, Davis believes the industry is moving upward.

“The purchase could not have happened at a better time,” he said. “The automobile industry is expected to recover starting in 2010 and General Motors is focused on quality and customer service at the lowest possible prices.”

This is following a year in which GM and Chrysler declared bankruptcy and the United States fell behind China as the largest vehicle market. J.D. Power and Associates projected U.S. auto sales to rise by 15 percent in 2010.

Both Davis and Hylton say they believe West Virginia, particularly the southern region, is going to grow and that their expansion of a local and family-owned dealership came at the right time.

“We’re excited about what’s in the future,” said Davis, a native of Beckley. “I really believe this area will prosper in the next few years.”

Hylton, a Flat Top native, added, “There’s not too many expanding in this business right now. We think it’s going to do real well.”

Davis, who has been in the industry five years, said their purchase was a planned expansion to broaden the selection of vehicles for southern West Virginians and that there’s never been a better time to buy a new or preowned car.

“At no time will you find better incentives and finances,” he said. “The consumer has the advantage in this market with large factory incentives, high trade-in values and low-rate financing.”

An order of 300 new vehicles recently was made.

The two also say they will offer the area’s largest selection of preowned vehicles “to meet every budget, including GMC-certified preowned vehicles,” Davis said.

He added customers can expect a satisfaction-driven experience and complete customer satisfaction is their primary goal.

Hylton, who got into the business two years ago, said he likes the hands-on work, but more importantly, it’s working with the “good people” on his staff.

They employ 113 people directly at all dealerships and 100 indirectly. He said they strive toward a customer-oriented focus on service, including loaner vehicles and a shuttle service.

At the end of the day, Hylton said, it’s not about selling cars, it’s about helping people.

“It’s about the people, the service and the way they want to be taken care of,” he said.

— E-mail:cjackson@ragister-herald.com

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