Business

Kupper buys import auto dealership in Bismarck

July 26, 2011

(Photo by Matt Bunk) Bob Kupper purchased Expressway Honda and Abra Auto Body on June 30. He changed the name of the auto dealership to Bismarck Motor Company.

Auto dealer Bob Kupper has purchased Expressway Honda and Abra Auto Body from the McKie Auto Group in Rapid City.

The sale of the two Bismarck businesses was finalized June 30, but it wasn’t announced publicly until July 25. Already, Kupper has changed the dealership’s name, its website and the way it does business.

The dealership is now called Bismarck Motor Company. It sells vehicles manufactured by Honda, Nissan and Hyundai. The new website is www.bismarckmotorcompany.com.

“The biggest changes customers will see is how we do business,” Kupper said. “We price all our cars with our best price up front, so you know exactly what you are looking at, and you know what the price is. Even our competition sees our prices, so they have to be good. We’re not doing high-pressure sales. There’s no negotiating.”

Bismarck Motor Company is Kupper’s third auto dealership in the Bismarck-Mandan area. Last year, he became the sole owner of Ressler Chevrolet and Ressler Subaru. In April, the names of the Mandan dealerships were changed to Kupper Chevrolet and Kupper Subaru.

Kupper had worked for the Ressler dealerships for 23 years prior to taking over the business. He began an incremental buyout of the dealerships about 10 years ago and became full owner in November.

Kupper now controls the broadest selection of import vehicles in Bismarck-Mandan. “The three additional import lines rounded us out and made the group a little more diversified,” Kupper said.

Kupper now has more than 200 employees at the three dealerships. He said he is planning to hire additional salespeople at Bismarck Motor Company.

Shaneille Ulmer, marketing director for the Kupper dealerships, said Abra Auto Body, a national brand, will continue to operate with the same name.