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| Vestiges of the former Volvo showroom in a receptacle outside |
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| The discarded Volvo signage inside the showroom |
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| New Audis on site |
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| Swanky showroom |
Several Audi models have already been moved into the showroom this past weekend. While Volvo has traditionally been a popular brand in Bethesda, the Audi name has garnered vastly more cachet among luxury and performance enthusiasts - and celebrities - than the stalwart Scandinavian badge. The Volvo dealership only opened last September.
EuroMotorcars is switching up in a big way. Their 5206 River Road service facility is also being transformed into an Audi service center. EuroMotorcars executives previously detailed their future plans for that property last November. At the time, however, the switch to Audi was not public information.
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| Interior of EuroMotorcars Audi Service Center on River Road under construction |
Signage for the service facility switch was also in place this weekend. Hopefully this means more R8s will be spotted around Bethesda Row and River Road.
But, wait - there's more.
Volvo is moving over to Ourisman Volkswagen, which is gearing up to open today at 7001 Arlington Road, in the ground floor of a new luxury apartment building. It too had its first VWs on-site in the building's garage this past weekend, as employees worked to get the showroom ready for customers. The showroom windows now have logos for Ourisman Volvo, as well - although the website given still touts EuroMotorcars Volvo for the moment.
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Nothing gets Robert Dyer more excited than a new car dealership
ReplyDeleteWell that was a quick changeover! Glad to see Audi here in Bethesda.
ReplyDeleteGood scoop! I have an Audi and the service at the Rockvilke dealer isn't great. Looking forward to taking it yo Bethesda from now on.
ReplyDeleteThe Volvo one is puzzling. Euro had it for only a few months. Did Volvo yank it from them, or does Audi not allow you to sell Volvos also?
I think next to go may be the Lotus franchise.
The dealership here will reduce Robert's concerns about traffic to service their cars since it's all local.
Delete"EuroMotorcars is switching up in a big way."
ReplyDeleteExcept that the site was a Bentley dealership barely a year ago. That was a big "switch down". The gap between Volvo and Audi isn't nearly as big.
Maybe they're having trouble judging "how thick Bethesda wallets are"?
Maybe they could paint their courtesy van yellow.
ReplyDeleteI have to think Audi will be way more popular in Bethesda than Volvo.
ReplyDeleteFuture Lauren residents can step out and buy an Audi, but not an Apple Watch Edition series!
ReplyDelete@ 8:33 AM -
ReplyDeleteNot just in Bethesda, but everywhere. Volvo's market share has declined by half during the past decade, and they probably will go the way of Saab in just a few more years.
@8:33 I think that's it. Audi has seen record sales growth the last few years, while Volvo has been on the decline. Euro has been around a while and surely they are good at figuring out where the future sales trends are.
ReplyDeleteSo did Euro Motorcars sell their franchise to Ourisman? Or something else? Does anyone know what happened? Maybe Dyer could help us out and ask? This is really interesting. Seems to the public like a win-win. We get a Volvo, and we're getting two dealerships for the price of one at the the Ourisman Volkswagon spot - now Ourisman Volkswagon and Volvo!
ReplyDeleteSorry I meant to say "we get an Audi"
ReplyDeleteBig misstake by Euromotors if you ask me. Over the next five years Volvo will have a completely new fleet, starting with the all new XC90 this summer. In terms of tech and design well ahead of the coming new Q7. Very interesting to follow developments.
ReplyDeleteSo what's the deal with that decapitated naked dude in the middle pic?
ReplyDeleteSeems like that would scare away potential customers.
When the car salesman say they have to check with their manager, they walk over to the naked decapitated guy?
DeleteIs there a Volvo dealer in Bethesda or not? Where will the service be? Euromotorcars Volvo (if there ever was such a thing) disappeared with a list of things that needed to be done to my car a couple of weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteEuromotorcars has never cared about any brands except MB. I don't know why they even attempted the Volvo thing. Reminds me of when they had SAAB and dumped that years ago.
I'd like to get my car serviced somewhere nearby, but I won't miss EMC for one second.
3:51: Yes, the Volvo will be at the Ourisman Volkswagen dealership pictured above. However, I'm not sure where their service will be, as the Volvo service center on River Road is now for Audi.
DeleteVolvo Service will be at 5415 Butler Road, Bethesda MD. It is one block from the old Martens and current Audi Bethesda Service facility. Like sales, Volvo service will also share space with Ourisman Volkswagen Service.
ReplyDeleteThe new service center is a huge upgrade.
7:23: Excellent. Thanks for the info.
Delete7:23 thanks! Do you know how the transaction went between EM and Ourisman over the Volvo dealership?
DeleteWell if they knew about this turning into Audi last November, they should have let the Volvo customers know ahead of time. Instead they lied all the way until the last minute. Then when showing up to see no Volvo signs and without any notifications appointments have been canceled, is just bad business by Euro.
ReplyDeleteFunny note, when we had our Audi years ago, the service manager there now, use to be the manager at Rockville Audi, but later got fired. I asked the advisor what happened and he simply said, "she had no business being a manager and sonic automotive found out the hard way".
I hope euro has done their research of her past background...
This place must be desperate for business. I drive a Audi and have had great service at Rockville and Audi of Silver spring. I have heard from my servicing dealer that they have no real experienced Audi personal and is owned by some company called New Country, but using the Euro motorcars name. I think its very tacky when you come back to your car and have Audi bethesda business cards for service and flyers on your windshield. Its really lack of class. Plus I dislike the fact that these cards will most likely end up on the ground littering the area as most people just throw them on the ground. Every time I drive by that dealership, there are no cars or customers out front, I guess that is a indication, along with their cheesy windshield advertisement, that its a poor place to take your business. Nice try Bethesda Audi (or Euromotorcars or New country), but I'm sticking with the places I know provide quality of work and value for my money spent.
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