Column: How to sell and service EVs? Bowman Chevy has answers

EV attitudes, training and infrastructure can make a difference at dealerships.

September 15, 2024 01:00 PM

Reporter covering the finance and insurance business

PAIGE HODDER

At Bowman Chevrolet, employees across the sales, finance and service departments drive electric models, such as the Equinox EV, as their personal vehicles.

Many automakers are scaling back electric vehicle plans amid slowing sales growth. Meanwhile, a Chevrolet dealership in Michigan is embracing EVs and offers a few lessons on how to sell more of them.

At Bowman Chevrolet in Clarkston, 40 miles north of Detroit, every sales associate takes General Motors' EV training, and the service drive has three master certified EV technicians. Employees across the sales, finance and service departments also drive EVs as their personal vehicles.

Automotive News' profile of Bowman Chevrolet explores the dealership attitudes, training and infrastructure that can be essential to selling EVs.

Our story highlights how the store went from selling one to two EVs a month in 2019 to roughly 30 new models per month this year. Bowman's dealer principal, general manager and general sales manager offer insights.

Another article dives deep into the service drive at Bowman Chevy, where technicians repair two to seven EVs a week. The repairs can be as complicated as a battery replacement or as innocuous as a software update, said Service Manager Mat Kostrzewa. Preparing for all possible fixes means regularly updating training and investing in new equipment.