Baierl Automotive has earned the confidence of consumers

Manufacturers set the incentives meant to bring buyers into the showrooms of automobile dealers, but if you really want the best deal possible, look to the sales people on the showroom floor. That’s the advice of Lee Baierl, president of Baierl Automotive. “We’ve been doing business in Pittsburgh for 55 years,” said Baierl, “and we’re not going to leave, so we’re all about protecting your investment.”

A family business that began operations in 1954, Baierl Automotive has grown to the point where it employs more than 400 people. In part, said Baierl, that growth came about because the company’s dealerships benefited from the expansion of Wexford, where many of the dealerships took root. But much of it resulted from the automotive group’s determination to earn “total customer confidence.” Indeed, there is no question they have earned it. Today nine Baierl dealerships offer full service. The family of franchises includes Acura, Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Scion and Subaru. In addition, there are two body shops, as well as an all-important finance department. With its high sales volume, the company maintains excellent contacts with financial institutions, which can be of great help in assisting customers with their financial needs.

The economic uncertainties that trouble consumers have had an impact on automobile dealers. “Here at our company,” said Baierl, “we asked ourselves, ‘Is the Baierl glass half full or half empty?’” In his view, the answer is clear: The glass is half full.

“We’ve dedicated ourselves to providing the best buying and service experience imaginable,” said Baierl. “We’ve worked diligently to jump ahead of economic conditions by bringing customers more value, more savings, and more reasons to trust us as their dealer of choice.”

This month the sales associates on the company’s showroom floors will kick off what they are calling a “Big, Big, Big Sale and Savings” promotion. “Given the rebates and incentives now available,” said Baierl, “customers can get as much as 10, 20, 30 or even, in some cases, 50 percent off the MSRP.”

In the months ahead, Baierl franchises will be rolling out new models, competing for the attention—and dollars—of consumers. The breadth of their franchises offers price diversity high and low, such as the Kia Soul, which is available for as little as $99 a month. It’s a hot car in a market cooled by economic concerns. Manufacturers are addressing the economic concerns. Chevrolet, Baierl pointed out, has at least10 models with an EPA-estimated fuel efficiency of 30 mpg, in a wide range of affordable vehicles.

Acura will also be setting new standards. An all-new V-6 model of Acura’s 2010 TSX sports sedan is scheduled to go on sale this summer. And recently, a prototype of the Acura ZDX, a luxury four-door sports couple, debuted at the New York International Auto Show. The production version of the ZDX is scheduled to hit showrooms this fall.

Whatever it is that’s going to whet the appetite of the consumer, Baierl Automotive has an answer. “It’s a buyers’ market,” said Baierl. “There are some great programs available. Trust the people at our dealerships to guide you to those that are best for you. That’s what they’ve been trained to do.”