Locally Based Firms Had $653.4M in 2002 Revenue

Four of the Top 10 largest automobile dealers in the state are based in Northwest Arkansas or operate satellite offices here, according to a recent report by Arkansas Business.r

The largest locally based auto dealer is Superior Automotive Group headed by David Sloan and Avis Bailey, which reported $290 million in 2002 sales. The Fayetteville firm, which employs 171 people, has seven local dealerships that sell everything from Cadillacs to Fords.r

Two parent firms of local auto dealers — Landers Auto Sales Inc. of Benton and Fletcher Auto Group of North Little Rock — were No. 1 and No. 2 overall. Landers Auto Park in Fayetteville is part of the state-leading Landers organization, and Fletcher owns Frank Fletcher Honda in Bentonville, Fletcher Chevrolet in Springdale and Fletcher Chrysler-Dodge in Rogers.r

Excluding the central Arkansas-owned firms, locally based dealers had $653.4 million in 2002 revenue.r

Other local firms in the statewide Top 25 include at No. 13 Ron Blackwell Ford-Jeep of Bentonville ($58.3 million); No. 15 Daryl Hickman Chevrolet Inc. of Siloam Springs ($48.2 million); No. 17 Bob Maloney Ford-Mercury Inc. of Rogers ($43.9 million); No. 19 Breeden Dodge Inc. of Fort Smith ($34 million); No. 20 Kent Rylee Chevy Oldsmobile of Rogers ($32 million) and at No. 21 Steve Smith Country of Springdale ($26 million).