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Brian Vonderheide is a first-time new car dealership owner. He is now the dealer principal of Mountain Mitsubishi, formerly Planet Mitsubishi Hickory, in Hickory, NC, in the western part of the state, after purchasing the store on September 20.
Vonderheide brings years of experience managing franchised dealerships, primarily in northern Mississippi, for Cannon Motor Co. Most recently, he owned a used-vehicle store specializing in luxury brands, The Collection of Tupelo in Mississippi, which he sold before taking over the Mitsubishi dealership.
Vonderheide, in a phone interview, said owning and operating a used-car store was a “stepping stone” toward owning his own new-car store.
He said he chose to pursue a Mitsubishi dealership because he sees it as an up-and-coming brand and as such Mitsubishi is more interested than other brands in a good dealer relationship.
“Mitsubishi was the only manufacturer I looked for. I specifically looked for a Mitsubishi dealership because I wanted something that would have a better relationship with the manufacturer,” he said. “I’m growing. This is my first dealership. I have to grow with it. And Mitsubishi, I believe, is on a growth strategy.”
The selling dealer is Helmi Felfel, president of Planet Automotive Group in the Charlotte, NC area. The Planet group has another Mitsubishi store, also called Planet Mitsubishi, and a Planet Kia dealership, both in Charlotte.
DCG Acquisitions, a Dave Cantin Group company, worked with both parties to facilitate the Mitsubishi dealership transaction. Robert Turbyfill and Michael Lacey, both managing directors of DCG Acquisitions, worked on the deal.
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