Mike Cupit Started First Car Dealership in Siberia

Mike Cupit isn’t afraid of new challenges.

In 1993, Cupit spent five months in Russia importing automobiles to St. Petersburg and Moscow. He also worked as a consultant for Russian businessmen who started the first car dealership in Siberia.

Cupit says he sold a Cadillac to a film producer in New Orleans who mentioned the business opportunities in Russia. The producer had connections in Russia and Cupit had access to cars. They began sending cars to Russia, he says.

“Cadillacs are really popular over there,” Cupit says.

The cars were shipped to St. Petersburg then driven to Moscow to be sold. When Cupit sent a shipment of 21 cars, he decided to accompany the cars. He planned on being in the country a few weeks but stayed five months.

While working there, Cupit was approached by several Russian businessmen who wanted to open the dealership in Siberia. They paid him to help set up the business.

“The Jeep Cherokee was very popular [in Siberia],” Cupit says. “Of course, everything had to be four-wheel drive there.”

The profit margin on cars is much higher in Russia than in the United States, he says. But, the cost of doing business there is high because of bribes that must be paid to government officials, he says.