Vehicle dealer sees area-best numbers in brand

With automobile sales up throughout the year, one local dealership is seeing growth larger than any other dealer in Southern Nevada.

Pahrump Valley Auto Mall's Chevrolet new vehicle sales are up 18 percent through November over last year, which is a big enough jump to earn the fastest growing Chevy dealership title in the area, which includes Las Vegas, according to Greg Mier, general manager of the dealership.

In addition, the auto mall's Buick and GMC sales were also up at 42 percent over last year, which was also among the fasting growing dealerships for those car brands as well.

Mier explained that a number of factors played a role in the increased sales this year, not just one reason alone.

"Our focus has been on new cars," Mier said. "We have the ability to offer prices a little bit less than other dealers in Southern Nevada."

Pahrump is outside of the local marketing agreement, which is a group that car dealerships are part of where each dealership helps pay for their brand's advertising in the area.

"When you see, visit your Southern Nevada Chevy dealer, we don't contribute to that, so the expense in our cars is a little bit less," Mier said.

That, coupled with lower sales tax than in Clark County, a good amount of new car buyers are making the trip over the hump for their new car needs, according to Mier.

"We're also capturing more business from Las Vegas," he said. "I'd say we're catching on more and more out here every year and I think that's certainly helped contribute. It's a cool deal that our local Chevy store is growing quicker than the rest of the market."

Through the first three months of fiscal year 2016, motor vehicle and parts dealers sales were up 13.2 percent in Nye County, continuing the trend in increased auto sales from fiscal year 2015, which saw a 10 percent jump over 2014.

Looking toward 2016, Mier said that although he doesn't have a crystal ball, he foresees things going in a positive direction and hopes to eclipse the mark set this year.

"I'd certainly say that I am looking forward to some continued growth in the coming years," he said.

Mier hopes some Chevy models that have updated styles will help draw in new car buyers next year.

"We have the new Chevy Malibu, the new 2016 Camaro starting to trickle in, that has a body-style change and is about 200 pounds lighter than in 2015 and the Silverado has gotten a little bit of a styling update," he said. "There's also some other new vehicles that are going to come out in the market in 2016."

Contact reporter Mick Akers at makers@pvtimes.com. Follow @mickakers on Twitter.