Feldman News

Perhaps we picked an unfair time to bring back our list ranking Northeast Ohio’s largest auto dealer groups.

2022 was the worst year for car sales in more than a decade. And that’s readily apparent when you compare this year’s list to the last one we published three years ago.

“Big” Al Gillespie and his team at the Feldman and Mark Wahlberg Automotive Groups will talk with Car Wars’ Cassie Broemmer about the key shifts he’s seen in consumer behavior during his expansive career in automotive retail and why it’s critical to stay ahead of the curve in customer communication.

In December of last year, Feldman Automotive Group celebrated the grand opening of their 19th dealership; the first freestanding Jeep dealership in Southeast Michigan. The group runs 13 stores in Michigan and partnered with actor Mark Wahlberg to open an additional six locations in Ohio.

In December of last year, Feldman Automotive Group, a partnership founded in collaboration with actor Mark Wahlberg, celebrated the grand opening of their 19th dealership; the first freestanding Jeep dealership in Southeast Michigan.

New Hudson-based Feldman Automotive Group today officially opened its 19th dealership — Feldman Jeep of Clarkston — the first free-standing Jeep dealership in southeast Michigan.

As if being an insanely popular Hollywood actor wasn’t enough, Mark Wahlberg is also a very successful entrepreneur. He is the owner of a company called Mark Wahlberg Airstream & RV. The company specializes in all things related to RVs as well as camping needs. This includes selling and financing these new or used vehicles as well as providing other parts and services. The business just took a massive new leap, as well. Wahlberg shared this accomplishment with his fans on Instagram.

In late 2009, longtime Livonia car dealer Kit Tennyson was counted out. The Chevrolet store on Plymouth Road that bore his surname was barely making ends meet. It sold about 120 new and used vehicles a month despite its desirable location that could easily deliver double or triple that amount.

Michigan car dealer Jay Feldman nervously sat in a restaurant in Hingham, Massachusetts. It was a hot day in August nearly four years ago. He was there for a business lunch, which would normally have been routine for him, but not this time. This lunch was with one of the biggest movie stars in the world.

Detroit-based Feldman Automotive Group was formed in 2008 by owner, chairman, and CEO Jay Feldman. In 2013, he rebranded his various stores as “Feldman” dealerships to create a consistent, recognizable brand. In 2018, Feldman Automotive achieved record sales, selling 26,000 vehicles for $918 million in revenue. In 2019, the group set another new sales record of almost 28,000 vehicles sold, bringing in $1 billion and 50 million in revenue.

Mark Wahlberg created a hilarious commercial for his new car dealership while on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Wednesday.