Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S43

OCTOBER 16, 2017 | 43
M E R C E D E S - B E N Z O F K A N S A S C I T Y, K A N S A S C I T Y, M O .

A CENTER JUST FOR VANS

K.C. Mercedes dealership
dedicates building, staff
to service the vehicles
Printed in Automotive News July 24, 2017

A

Jack Walsworth

jwalsworth@crain.com

t Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City's
new service center, don't expect to
see an E class having its oil changed
or a GLC getting its tires rotated.
The Missouri dealership's 10,000-squarefoot center was designed and built just for
commercial vans.
The $2 million-plus center opened in April
with six service stalls, each with its own gaMercedes-Benz of Kansas City's $2 million-plus commercial van service center has six stalls, each
rage door. An alignment bay was designed
with its own garage door. The center has freed up space and manpower at the car service center.
with a high ceiling to accommodate the vans.
Mercedes passenger vehicles a year.
vehicles because they generally perform more
"This makes it much easier to work on the veThe van has been a bonanza for the Soave
demanding work with heavier loads.
hicles," said Kevin Killilea, COO of the company
group. Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City, near
Service hours required for vans are usually
that owns the dealership, Soave Automotive
interstates 70 and 35, is what Killilea calls "a
double the time spent on passenger vehicles.
Group. Soave has three locations in Missouri
big stopping point" for commercial custom"From a dealer standpoint, it's good busiand Kansas, handling Alfa Romeo, BMW, Jagers moving through the Midwest who need
ness," Killilea said.
uar, Land Rover, Maserati, Mercedes, Porsche
service.
He said it is difficult to estimate the customer
and Volkswagen vehicles.
Similarly, the store captures a lot of RV convolume of a typical day at the new center beBefore the center opened, Mercedes vans
version vans that are not from the local marcause the number of hours per job differs greatwere serviced alongside all other vehicles, Killiket as drivers cross the Midwest on vacations
ly. But the center is running at its planned
lea said. That proved to be a challenge as
and long-distance outings.
capacity. That, in turn, has freed up
some of the vans were too big and
"We're there to help them," he said.
space and manpower at the car
heavy to put on hoists designed for
Store opens a
More appealing for Soave's commercial fleet
service center.
cars, or in the case of conversion
commercial van
business, Kansas City is also home to large lovans, too bulky with accessories.
service center.
gistics operations for FedEx and DHL.
"As a business, we started to
'Orphaned owners'
Before, the vans were
One of the two has a van in for service with
feel the pinch of having a faciliU.S. Sprinter van sales began
serviced alongside all
the Kansas City dealership on any given week,
ty that wasn't designed for our
in 2001 by Freightliner, the truck
other vehicles.
he said.
vehicles," he said.
builder owned by parent compaIn terms of commercial van sales, Killilea
ny Daimler AG. In 2003, when
said the dealership is the second-largest in
Daimler owned the Chrysler group,
Check-in
the nation for van fleet sales, with most of its
the Sprinter also was badged as a Dodge and
The van center is on the same plot of land
1,500 van sales a year to fleet customers going
sold by that brand's dealers.
as the dealership, where vans are displayed
outside the Kansas City market.
In 2010, Mercedes took Sprinter from Dodge
in a shared showroom. Van customers check
and began awarding the franchise to its dealers.
in for service appointments using the store's
The move also meant that Dodge stores would
existing drive.
Business to business
no longer offer service on the vans.
Shared service writers check in van cusBefore the new center opened, the dealership
"There are a lot of orphaned owners out
tomers as they arrive, but there is a separate
didn't market its commercial van service.
there," Killilea said. "Other than a certified
service schedule for the vans, and dedicated
"What was showing up at the door was
Mercedes dealership or a Freightliner center,
service advisers and certified technicians
more than enough," Killilea said.
they have no place to go."
take over after check-in, routing the vans into
But Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City now has
About 250 Mercedes dealerships and 50
the new building.
a business-to-business marketing plan for
Freightliner locations in the U.S. are certified
Three van technicians are on staff there, but
the new center.
to service the vans.
Killilea said more are planned if volume
"The Sprinter vehicle is a durable vehicle,
Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City sells about
grows as expected.
even the old ones," Killilea said. "Most are still
100 commercial vans a year to nonfleet cusWhen vans come in for service, they typically
on the road, with lots of mileage. It's a great
tomers, Killilea said, and around 350 new
require more attention than noncommercial
opportunity for service." a



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement

Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - Intro
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S1
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S2
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S3
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S4
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S5
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S6
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S7
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S8
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S9
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S10
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S11
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S12
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S13
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S14
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S15
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S16
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S17
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S18
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S19
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S20
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S21
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S22
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S23
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S24
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S25
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S26
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S27
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S28
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S29
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S30
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S31
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S32
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Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S35
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Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S39
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S40
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S41
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S42
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S43
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S44
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S45
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S46
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S47
Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S48
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