Staff Reports
The P4 Automotive Group owned by Leo Portaluppi has purchased the Poynter Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and Hyundai dealership, bringing those brands under the same company umbrella with his Chevrolet, Ford and Nissan dealerships in Columbus.
Portaluppi, who brought the Chevrolet brand back to Columbus in 2014 along with General Motors’ multi-million dollar investment in Chevrolet of Columbus, celebrated the official openings of Ford of Columbus and Nissan of Columbus last year.
Already at work at the former Poynter dealership at 3020 N. National Road early Wednesday morning, Portaluppi said he had been working on the acquisition for a while, and with Ford of Columbus next door to the Poynter dealership, it seemed a natural fit.
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Portaluppi said he had a good relationship with Bob Poynter Jr. and had indicated to him that if he ever wanted to move on, Portaluppi would be interested in the dealership.
“We’re so happy to be in Columbus. It’s almost seven years here,” Portaluppi said. “This is home, and we are glad to be in Columbus.”
Portaluppi said he was impressed with the Poynter employees, saying there were so many great people working at the dealership who had been there a long time, a definite plus as the dealership moves into new ownership.
Portaluppi found success in Columbus bringing back Chevrolet, which hadn’t had a presence in Columbus since 2012 when Wiese GM Center and General Motors parted ways.
He began his automotive career at age 18 cleaning the floors in a Texas car dealership, running parts to technicians and learning the ropes at the ground level.
When Chevrolet chose him for the new Columbus dealership, he moved his family to Columbus, bringing his office manager and sales manager for a dealership he had with a partner in Owensboro, Kentucky, for the previous seven years.
“I was starting with nothing,” he said of the move to Columbus.
“No employees. No equipment. The other day, I had to go out and buy a stapler,” he said in 2014.
Portaluppi said then that he was investing everything he had in the new Chevrolet dealership.
“There is no Plan B. This is my first dealership on my own,” he said.
A protege of Roger Penske, Portaluppi worked his way up at a Houston area dealership owned by Penske Automotive Group. Portaluppi said in an earlier interview that Penske became a role model for professionalism and integrity that he wanted to emulate.
From Penske, Portaluppi learned about the importance of image, cleanliness and attention to detail. Penske also ingrained ethical behavior and integrity into everything he did and everything his employees did, something Portaluppi said he also embraced.
The P4 in his company’s name stands for a commitment to people, process, passion and product.
Portaluppi’s dealerships and employees have been active in supporting community causes, including ongoing partnerships with YES Cinema and the Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Center, and participating in raffles to benefit the Columbus Philharmonic and Columbus Craft Beer Fest.
Remodeling has already begin at the Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and Hyundai dealership. Former Columbus Mayor Fred Armstrong, who handles marketing and promotion for P4 Automotive, was on a stepladder painting at the dealership Wednesday morning.
Portaluppi also purchased the building next door to the dealership, and remodeling will be done on the Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and Hyundai building with plans to move the Hyundai portion next door, where it will share space with the dealership’s body shop, something that Portaluppi did not have before this purchase.
The Portaluppi dealerships before the acquisition have a combined 150 employees, and Columbus continues to be home base for all of them with centralized business offices locally.
Poynter Jr. had owned and operated the Columbus dealerships since 2008. He decided to offer the dealerships for sale to focus his time on his other businesses, he said in a statement. He said he is very grateful for all of the relationships he has built in the store and appreciates all who have done business with him over the years.
His father, Bob Poynter, has three dealerships in Seymour, which started in 1979 with Bob Poynter Chevrolet. He has since added two more dealerships, offering 10 brands, including Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, GMC, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat and Ford.
Receiving many awards over the years for the highest level of customer satisfaction and customer service, Poynter Jr. said his father’s mission has been the same for 42 years: To treat the customers the way he would want to be treated. His goal has not changed in 42 years, which is to make 100% of the customers happy, 100% of the time, which can be attributed to his success and longevity in the business, he said.
Poynter Jr. thanked the Columbus community and his employees for all of their support over the years. He joked saying he is not retiring and is looking forward to spending more time focused on his family and other businesses.