GROWING LAND ROVER IN A CORNER OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

In August, Houston-based indiGO Auto Group made its entry into the booming California market with the purchase of Rancho Mirage, California-based Desert European Motorcars which includes the key Land Rover Rancho Mirage dealership.

Here, Chairman and CEO of indiGO Auto Group, Todd Blue, explains his plans for expanding the Land Rover business in one of The Golden State’s top luxury markets.

Tell us about your recent acquisition of Desert European.
Our recent acquisition is a tremendous opportunity for us. We’ve been looking to expand into Southern California for a while now, and we’re ecstatic to have been able to do so with an asset of this quality. It takes our indiGO Auto Group up to nine franchises and gives us our first Land Rover and Jaguar stores.

How do you see the potential for growing the Land Rover business?
As you’d imagine, there’s already a solid Range Rover market in this area of California. The entire Coachella Valley from Palm Springs to Indio (with Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, Palm Desert and La Quinta in between) is expanding eastward, and expanding fast. There is a great diversity here. The demographics for the Land Rover line-up here are awesome!

You already have a great Land Rover facility within the Desert European campus in Rancho Mirage. Any plans to change it?
We’re working on building a brand new refreshed showroom that will be tied into an all new Jaguar facility. We hope to have it finished within the next 18-20 months and we’re all really excited about it.

What do you think it is that your team does differently?
First and foremost, everyone who works within our group is truly passionate about cars and hugely knowledgeable about the cars we sell. They’re also passionate about exceeding a customer’s expectations. The culture that runs throughout our company is one of ‘Yes’. Our aim is never to say ‘No’.

What direction do you give to your team?
We hold true to five organizational certainties:
-We prioritize continuous improvement
-We passionately honor the heritage of the brands we represent
-We maintain a consciousness for uniqueness and authenticity
-We exceed our customer’s expectations with attention to detail
-We embrace change, and Activate Customer Ownership

This is what The indiGO Auto Group is committed to every single day.

What has surprised you most about the Land Rover side of your business?
What has surprised us the most is definitely the product. Until the acquisition, I admit my only experience of the brand was from behind the wheel of a top-of-the-line Range Rover Autobiography. Since August, I’ve driven every model and each one has surprised and excited me. I see tremendous potential in our market for the Range Rover Evoque. Also, after driving my family around Southern California in the brand new Range Rover Sport, I feel there is not a more capable luxury sport utility vehicle on the market today (emphasize sport!).

What’s your take on the Land Rover organization you’re now working with?
I think the most pleasant surprise of this acquisition has been learning about the future of the brand. Tata’s investment in new product, R&D and technology gives me confidence as a dealer. The USA management and leadership team at Jaguar Land Rover North America is focused and supportive. Land Rover is a brand that stands alone in the marketplace today. Jaguar is coming on strong. I love being in the moment but it’s nice that the future looks bright!