Janssen Auto Group Expands to Better Serve the Holdrege Area

By Elena Olson King

With commuting to locations in McCook, North Platte, and in Holdrege, it's a good thing Dan and Dave Janssen are in the car business.

Even when they are working in town, they often move between their three dealerships during the day.

Once their two Holdrege locations were within walking distance on west highway 6 & 34; however, Dan and Dave recently purchased Black Motors on East Avenue downtown.

The different locations may cause Dan and Dave more driving time, but they save their customers from searching for hours for a new vehicle. "We have 700 cars on our website, so there is a very good chance we have what you're looking for," Dave explains. "We almost always have what people want."

The expanded inventory of the Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealership gives people in town more choices, but Holdrege residents aren't the only ones who shop for their next vehicle at one of the Janssen locations. "Instead of people going out of town to buy a car, lots of people come into town," Dave continues. These same buyers contribute to the local economy through sales tax as well as stopping at other Holdrege businesses.

Janssen's presence in the community is more than just auto dealerships, however. As residents of a city the size of Holdrege, honesty and integrity are paramount to their success. Dan and Dave see customers at league baseball games. They sell cars to their friends and neighbors. Word-of-mouth is the most important type of advertising they get as compared to big promotions in bigger cities. Dave says, "It's totally different here than in Lincoln."

Both Janssens grew up learning about how to own an auto dealership in a small town. Their father Lee still works part time in the McCook dealership he purchased in 1971. Continuing in the family business seemed natural to Dave after finishing college at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. "It's what I knew," Dave describes. "And it's been rewarding."

The vehicles Dave watched his father sell at the McCook location are very different than some of the cars and trucks he and his brother sell today. The Chevy Volt combines plug-in electric power with gas for longer trips. Ford Ecoboost technology allows for greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions. Some new cars are wireless hot spots. "You can talk to your car and tell it what to do. Some can sense if you are falling asleep and your seat will start to vibrate to wake you up," Dave adds.

Whether they are helping you find a car for your commute or an SUV with wifi to help make that family road trip more entertaining, the newly expanded Janssen Auto Group has a vehicle that will meet your needs.  

The Janssen and Sons Ford dealership is located on west highway 6 & 34 at 601 W 4th Avenue. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm and Saturday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. The service department is open from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm Monday through Friday and from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm on Saturday. The phone number is (308) 995-4418 and they are on the web at www.holdregeford.com.

Lee Janssen Chevrolet can be found at 1221 W. Hwy 6. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm and Saturday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. The service department and parts department are open from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm Monday through Friday and from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm on Saturday. The phone number is (866) 308-9308 their website is www.janssenmotors.com.

The new location, Janssen Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram of Holdrege, is located at 305 S East Ave. They are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm and Saturday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. The sales department can be reached at (888) 461-2546, the service department at (888) 526-7816, and the parts department at (888) 526-4414. Their website is www.janssenchryslerholdrege.com.

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