Snethkamp Chrysler Jeep Grows with Dodge Addition

One of Nation's Oldest Dealerships Becomes One of Nation's Largest with Major Expansion as Part of Chrysler Group "Project Alpha"

Eighty Year, Four Generation Family Business Builds on Roots in Highland Park, Inside City of Detroit

HIGHLAND PARK, Mich., Dec. 4 -- One of the nation's oldest and original auto dealerships -- Bill Snethkamp Chrysler Jeep -- is becoming one of the nation's largest with the addition of the Dodge nameplate to its Highland Park store on Woodward Avenue, inside the city of Detroit. [Editors' note: Highland Park is an incorporated city fully inside the city of Detroit.]

The announcement was made by Snethkamp Automotive Family president Mark Snethkamp. Mark Snethkamp is the third of four generations of the nationally recognized leader in automotive retail and leasing operations.

"Our focus has always been on our customers and our communities," Snethkamp said. "This addition of Dodge to our existing line-up of Chrysler and Jeep completes the full circle of our ability to meet every transportation need of our customers with one visit in one location."

Al Deeby Dodge, formerly of Hamtramck, Mich., is moving to the existing Bill Snethkamp Chrysler Jeep on Woodward Avenue to become Bill Snethkamp Chrysler Jeep Dodge. Al Deeby Dodge has been a member of the Snethkamp Automotive Family group of stores and auto related services. Alphonse Deeby was previously general manager of the Highland Park Bill Snethkamp Chrysler Jeep store before taking over the Hamtramck Dodge store. He continues with the new combined store as vice president and general manager.

Deeby started with the Snethkamp Automotive Family of stores in 1980 and progressed through a number of positions in the Highland Park store, becoming general manager 16 years ago. He became a partner with Mark Snethkamp six years ago when they bought the Hamtramck Dodge store.

The Deeby roots also go deep in Dodge and the area. Alphonse Deeby's father, Al Deeby, worked in the Hamtramck Dodge store, and was an active leader in Hamtramck, for more than 40 years. He retired in 1997. Snethkamp and Alphonse Deeby named the store Al Deeby Dodge in his honor when they bought it six years ago.

Snethkamp is actively acquiring additional frontage and buildings on Woodward Avenue for a comprehensive campus of all Bill Snethkamp Chrysler Jeep Dodge automotive operations.

The new combined facility, now in design, is expected to be nearly 80,000 square feet on an approximate eight acre site, providing a substantial investment and anchor to Highland Park and the north part of Woodward Avenue as it approaches the northern Detroit city limits. The combined stores employ more than 100 people.

Automotive services at the new combined location include new vehicle sales for Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge, including all Dodge trucks; pre-owned vehicle sales, parts, full vehicle service and body shop with 57 service and body shop bays for immediate attention, and one of the nation's largest dealer fleet leasing operations, Corporate Fleet Services, with vehicles leased in all 48 continental states, Canada and Mexico.

The Snethkamp tradition is built on a solid foundation of community roots. "We have a basic belief in reinvesting in our communities and in our people that started with my grandfather in 1926," Snethkamp said. "It's been good for our customers, good for our communities, good for our employees and good for us for four generations."

The new Bill Snethkamp Chrysler Jeep Dodge combines all Chrysler Group nameplates under one roof -- a national strategy DaimlerChrysler calls "Project Alpha." This is the largest Project Alpha store in an original urban city. Most combined "Alpha" stores are in suburban areas.

Mark Snethkamp's daughters Jennifer and Jill are the fourth generation in the Highland Park store. Mark's son, Mark Snethkamp, Jr., is an automobile marketing major at Northwood University's Michigan campus in Midland, Mich., preparing to continue the family tradition.

Edward Snethkamp, Sr. founded the family legacy as a used car salesman for an industry still in its infancy in 1926. That same year, he became one of the first franchised Chrysler dealers in the world auto capital of Detroit, establishing a business that would provide continuous sales and service of automobiles for eight decades. The only exception was WWII, when the original auto dealer's showroom was converted into a tool and die factory making critically needed materials for the war effort.

Mark Snethkamp has led the growth and development of the Snethkamp Automotive Family of dealerships in the last decade to one of the most prominent and successful automotive groups in the nation, including the expanding Bill Snethkamp Chrysler Jeep Dodge in Highland Park; Snethkamp Chrysler Jeep in Redford; Bill Snethkamp Dodge in Lansing; Al Deeby Dodge in Clarkston; Car City, a pre-owned vehicle superstore in Highland Park; and one of the nation's largest dealer fleet leasing operations, Corporate Fleet Services, with vehicles leased in all 48 continental states, Canada and Mexico.

Bill Snethkamp Chrysler Jeep Dodge is located at 16400 Woodward Avenue, Highland Park, MI 48203, 313-868-3300, http://www.snethkamp.com/ .