Business View Magazine l October 2022

173 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 10 approach from the very beginning, creating charter trade schools for young people to explore different trades before they leave high school. These schools are being explored in partnership with electrical, plumbing, and HVAC contractors to give young people a range of career choices. Other partnerships that Kunes Auto Group has benefitted from include several business collaborations that have delivered long-standing advantages. “We have incredible partners that have helped us grow,” Kunes says. “We have Auto/Mate, our Dealer Management System (DMS), Manheim, and a host of other really amazing organizations that we’ve worked with.” The company’s extensive partner network helps to ensure that it remains abreast of market developments, including the rise in popularity of electric vehicles. Kunes Auto Group is one of the largest Mach-E dealers in the U.S. because the company not only made a concerted effort to acquire that specific product but also ensured it had some of the best-trained sales staff around to promote it. “We positioned ourselves at the small to mid-markets where we can give smaller dealers the support they need,” Kunes says. “We are trying to stay at the forefront of the electric vehicle market. The rural areas where we reside may not be at the forefront in terms of sales, but we are always ready to answer any questions that our customers may have on electric vehicles.” With new technological developments and market shifts constantly emerging, Kunes Auto Group’s goals are always evolving. Even with the shifts that have occurred across geographies and industries, however, it’s important to maintain a longstanding ethos. “In truth, this industry hasn’t really changed much since the selling of covered wagons,” Kunes says. “It is still a relationship industry. If we can train our people to understand that then we’ll continue to offer our customers the best possible service. I don’t think our industry is ever going to become purely transactions. Relationships will continue to be important.” KUNES AUTO GROUP