Van Horn Automotive Group
Van Horn Mazda exists no more and, as of Monday, has reopened as Van Horn Motors of Sheboygan. The franchise agreement with Mazda Motor Corporation was terminated effective on Saturday, September 30, 2023. The dealership will remain operational as a retailer and service center for pre-owned vehicles.
The location at 3512 Wilgus Avenue, Sheboygan, has been in the Van Horn family since 1989 when Joe Van Horn and Dan Wieland went into business together. Dan and Joann Wieland operated the dealership as Van Horn Wieland Oldsmobile. Hyundai was added shortly after, and then Mazda more recently. In January of 2020, Van Horn Hyundai of Sheboygan moved to a new facility on Racetrack Road, leaving Mazda as the sole franchise.
Jeff Niesen, President of Van Horn Automotive Group, said that “The move to sell the franchise back to Mazda was strictly a business decision. We had early success with this location as a stand-alone Mazda dealership, but the effects of COVID made new Mazda vehicle acquisition very difficult, and the investment to build a new facility didn’t match up with new vehicle sales. We’re excited to continue to operate this location as a used car dealership serving Sheboygan and beyond.”
As all current staff remains and very little will change in day-to-day operations, the most noticeable difference may be that the location can no longer perform warranty service on Mazda vehicles, and current customers will need to travel to another Mazda dealership to have warranty work completed.
Comments