By Adam Studzinski
BLOOMINGTON – With Mitsubishi Motor’s plant in Normal set to shut down later this year, what effect – if any – will that have on the local Mitsubishi dealership?
O’Brien Mitsubishi General Manager Ryan Gremoore told WJBC’s Dan Swaney his business model will not change once the plant closes.
“Cars are going to be built in Japan, they’re going to be shipped over here all the same,” said Gremoore. “The production’s not going to change as far as our quantity. It’s going to be on a sales rate. We’re the number one selling Outlander Sport dealer in the country. We’re going to continue to get the number one shipment and volume.”
Podcast: Listen to Gremoore’s full conversation on WJBC.
Gremoore added how the closure effects the dealership is really up to them.
“We still have a great product and that product is not just the car. It’s the experience. It’s the O’Brien culture. It’s what we do when people walk in and how they feel when they leave,” he said.
Gremoore was optimistic everything will work out for the best.
“Certainly, this is a community banded together,” said Gremoore. “We’ve got a great group of people leading both towns, both cities. It’s a speed bump. We’re going to get through it. But O’Brien Mitsubishi is going to continue to strive for our goals.”
Gremoore encouraged people to continue to buy cars locally, even though the Outlander Sport will no longer be built locally. He said he’s grateful to Mitsubishi for providing thousands of jobs in the community for 30 years.
Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].
