New Dealership Announces Donation to Local Area Schools

Summit Automotive Partners, an integrated group of automotive dealerships, is pleased to announce its newest offering, Vibe Auto, in Lebanon, TN. Local leaders from the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce gathered today for a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially welcome the independent used car dealership to the city. In addition to the ribbon cutting, Summit Automotive Partners also announced that Vibe Auto will participate in its DRIVE for Education program, enabling area schools to receive donations during the school year. The program will kick off locally with a $2,000 donation to W.A. Wright Elementary to help integrate technology into the school.

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Lebanon Mayor Philip Craighead and Summit Automotive Partners CEO Bill Carmichael cut the ceremonial ribbon today, welcoming Vibe Auto dealership to the Lebanon, alongside members of the Chamber of Commerce. (Photo: Business Wire)

“What an honor to have Lebanon chosen as the test market for Vibe Auto,” commented Melanie Minter, president of the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce. “Further, having Vibe step in to support our schools is such a welcome announcement. They already feel like a member of our community in Lebanon – increasing jobs and opportunities for local residents, young and old.”

The decision to expand into the independent used car model was spurred by trends and an industry-wide movement toward used car dealerships that exist independent of new car dealerships.

“The truth is, customers don’t trust the used car buying experience,” commented Bill Carmichael, president and CEO of Summit Automotive Partners. “This distrust is associated with everything from the condition of the car to the haggling over price. Our method with Vibe Auto is to turn used car buying on its head by bringing in the Good Vibe Guarantee that ensures peace of mind, pre and post-purchase.”

Vibe Auto is projected to sell 50-60 cars per month and will initially employ 5-6 fulltime employees with plans to double its workforce in the coming months. This is the second dealership for Summit Automotive Partners in Tennessee, following Action Nissan in Nashville.

For more information on Vibe Auto, please visit: http://www.vibeauto.com

About Summit Automotive Partners

Summit Automotive Partners is a privately-held automotive management group headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Summit was founded in 2007, based on a set of firm beliefs: long-term relationships, the empowerment of employees and customers and the innovation and creativity that come from a positive work environment. It’s all about making car buying easy, as it should be.

R/WestMolly Ishkanian, 971-242-8258molly@r-west.com