Former Mitsubishi CEO Pierre Gagnon is Bricklin's Choice to Lead Distribution for Visionary Vehicles
Gagnon Jumps Into Key Dealer Meetings While Setting Up Distribution Headquarters In Southern California
NEW YORK, March 10 -- Visionary Vehicles LLC, an international automobile import/distribution company founded by Malcolm Bricklin to develop and sell a new luxury line of high-quality Chinese-made vehicles at exceptionally low price points, has announced the appointment of Pierre Gagnon as President and Chief Operating Officer, North American Sales and Distribution. Mr. Gagnon has more than two decades of senior management experience in the auto industry, and will oversee the distribution of the Chery Automobile Company's line of vehicles to 250 Visionary Vehicles dealers in North America. Mr. Gagnon will establish Visionary Vehicles' distribution headquarters in Southern California.
"Pierre Gagnon is perfect for this critical position," said Malcolm Bricklin, Founder and CEO of Visionary Vehicles. "We will bring a totally new line of luxurious, high-quality cars to the North American market in a never- before-seen Auto Show retail setting. Such a bold plan requires experience and real leadership abilities. Pierre has both and will play an instrumental role in our goal of fundamentally changing the way that cars and trucks are sold in the United States by redefining the price of luxury."
Prior to joining Visionary Vehicles, Mr. Gagnon was the Chief Executive Officer of Mitsubishi North America (July 2002 - September 2003), after serving as the Chief Operating Officer between 1997 and 2002. Before joining Mitsubishi, Mr. Gagnon was the Director of Consumer Marketing for Saturn (August 1996 - April 1997), a company also determined to upgrade the retail experience for car buyers. He also served as Director Saturn/SAAB/Isuzu Division of General Motors Canada (November 1992 - August 1996)
Pierre Gagnon said, "I was looking for what's next in the automotive business, and Visionary Vehicles is on the forefront of the auto industry's next big trend. Never have I worked with a company that will possess such widespread advantages over its competitors in terms of product, quality, and price. My job will be to ensure that both consumers and dealers reap the benefits when you add the vision of a pioneer like Malcolm Bricklin with the determination and efficiencies of a company like Chery."
Mr. Gagnon will report directly to Malcolm Bricklin and the Board of Directors. He will be responsible for establishing and operating the critical dealer network in North America. He joins Paul Lambert, President of North American Marketing and Dennis Gore, Chief Engineer and Executive Vice President of Research and Development as Bricklin's first executive staff choices.
Visionary Vehicles and Chery Automobile Company have a plan to eventually sell 2,000,000 units in North America with the first 1,000,000 units to be manufactured at the large, expansive Chery factory in Wuhu, China and the next (additional) 1,000,000 units to be manufactured at new Visionary Vehicles/Chery facilities in the United States. For more information, visit http://www.vvcars.com/.
About Visionary Vehicles
Automotive entrepreneur, Malcolm Bricklin, and his team of experienced professionals established Visionary Vehicles as an international automobile company with the mission to bring an exciting new brand of aggressively priced, beautifully styled, high quality vehicles into North America.
After searching the globe, Visionary Vehicles discovered the ideal manufacturing partner in Chery Automobile Company (Wuhu, China). Over the past several months, Visionary Vehicles and Chery's manufacturing teams have created a dynamic working relationship that brings innovation, a long-term product strategy, and "quick response" capabilities to the marketplace to give its brand an incredible competitive advantage.
Visionary Vehicles will also introduce a new retail experience for its consumers and is in the process of creating a revolutionary Auto Show for the planned self-standing retail facilities.
