You may assume that the legacy of Donnie Crevier would revolve entirely around BMWs and the auto industry, but this is actually only a minor portion of the tale. Donnie Crevier’s legacy is much more extensive and focused on people than it is on automobiles.
Donnie Crevier started working in the automobile industry in 1966 as a new car salesman at Theodore Robins Ford. From 1969 until 1974, he managed new automobile sales. Donnie started working at Crevier BMW in 1974 with his father, Bob, and his uncle, Bill. In 1975, he became a partner and continued to help run the business until 2011. Additionally, he founded and acquired Crevier Classic Cars in 2006.
Donnie has been deeply committed to aiding kids through assisting young people through education in addition to his automotive career. He has put a lot of effort into helping at-risk children achieve their goals and lead more fulfilling lives. Donnie has held positions on a number of boards, including those for the Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach, the Rancho Community College Foundation, Kids On-Track, the Orange County Human Relations Council, Western Medical Center, the Orange County Motor Car Dealers Association, Think Together, and the High School Inc. Foundation, where he currently sits on the board.
Numerous honors and awards have been given to Donnie, including the Orange County Human Relations Award, the Good Scout Award (Orange County Council of the Boy Scouts of America), the First Annual Partner in Education Award from Rancho Santiago Community College District, the 2002 Tim Magazine Quality Dealer Award, the Business in the Arts Award, the ROP Business Leader of the Year Award from Santa Ana Unified School District, the 2012 Citizen of the Year Award from the City of Santa Ana, and the 201.
Crevier Classic Cars is pleased to share the news that AL Frink, a beloved member, has received the 2018 Ellis Island Medal of Honor. The Ellis Island Medals of Honor, which are yearly awarded to a select group of people whose achievements in their fields and inspiring contribution to our country are cause for celebration, are proudly sponsored by the Ellis Island Honors Society. The Medal is one of our country’s most prestigious awards and has been formally acknowledged by both Houses of Congress. It is regularly remembered in the Congressional Record.
The Ellis Island Medals of Honor pay homage to tolerance, brotherhood, variety, and patriotism while embodying the spirit of America. The most significant thing about the honorees—native-born or naturalized—is that they are people who have made it their goal to help those who are less fortunate by sharing their wealth of knowledge, unwavering fortitude, unlimited compassion, special talents, and unselfish kindness. EIHS continues to be committed to, and has successfully raised a sizable sum of money for, the upkeep and restoration of Ellis Island in addition to staging their annual gala.
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Penske purchases a Santa Ana Crevier BMW.
Penske Automotive Group Inc., a major player in the auto retail industry, has acquired the Crevier BMW and Mini dealerships in Santa Ana.
The dealer chain made the announcement on Tuesday in an effort to strengthen its position in Southern California and the luxury auto market.
The Crevier family has grown the dealership over many years to become one of the biggest BMW centers in the country. Recently, the family sparked a local advertising war by highlighting the store’s amenities, including a putting green that clients may enjoy while their vehicle is being repaired.
Other Southern California BMW centers shot back, claiming in their advertisements that they are focused on automobiles rather than golf in response to Crevier’s advertising campaign’s prominence of the putting green, a restaurant, and a BMW car museum.
Despite this, Penske continued to be interested in Crevier, which is close to Penske’s franchises for Audi and Volkswagen in the same auto mall. The agreement’s terms weren’t made public.
George W. Brochick, executive vice president of Penske’s western region, noted that these franchises “offer a great chance to increase our footprint in Orange County.”
BMW may be the best-selling luxury manufacturer in the United States this year, according to Anwyl, who noted that the profit margin on these imports from Europe is now rather high. Penske wants to increase his stake and work on this section further.
Crevier is Penske’s eleventh BMW dealership, with yearly sales of around $275 million. The property is 12 acres in size and has 62 service bays, almost 100,000 square feet of buildings, and a five-story, 195,000 square foot parking tower.
In terms of new BMW sales in the United States last year, Crevier BMW was among the top five dealers.
According to Shane Dever, managing director of Presidio Group, the investment bank that handled the transaction, the pace of sales of strong vehicle franchises like Crevier has picked up after the market for auto dealerships nearly stagnated from 2008 through 2010.
There is currently a pent-up supply of dealers eager to depart because the market has been closed for several years, according to Dever.
The proprietors of independent dealerships are a demographic group that is getting older.
The recession served as a reminder to these owners of the value of liquidity and diversity in their individual portfolios, according to Dever.
Additionally, he claimed that the better-managed dealerships’ recent excellent earnings have increased the cost of franchises.
Penske is run by former racing car driver Roger S. Penske and is headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The business operates 154 auto franchises abroad, principally in Britain, and 170 in the United States.
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The Santa Ana Auto Mall’s Crevier BMW and Mini Cooper store has been acquired by Michigan-based Penske Automotive Group.
In the United States, Crevier is the largest dealer of pre-owned BMWs, the fifth-largest dealer of new BMWs, and the seventh-largest dealer of MINIs. According to Crevier’s website, more than 4,600 new and used cars are sold there each year.
According to Penske, the corporation generates $275 million in annual revenue. There was no disclosure of the transaction’s terms.
Owner Donnie Crevier reported selling “because I’m worried about how the business might change without me. I wanted to choose the business that would take over from me, and I wanted them to preserve the same name and management group.”
He declared that he will keep running Crevier Sales and Leasing and Crevier Classic Cars.
Commonwealth Audi and Commonwealth Volkswagen are among the 40 brands represented by the 324 retail automobile franchises run by Penske in the Santa Ana Auto Mall. 14,500 people work for it worldwide.
Donnie Crevier stated that BMW was “for people who wish to enjoy driving and participate in driving” in a 1988 Register article.
Bob Crevier outlined his selling philosophies in that piece “We employ a subdued, soft-sell strategy. There is no obligation. We allowed them to look. People are sophisticated, thus sellers should show some deference to their customers.”
There were two hoists and six staff when the dealership originally started. According to Penske, it now includes 62 service bays and a five-story parking structure on 12 acres.
BMW’s Center of Excellence award for customer service has been given to Crevier BMW six times, most recently in 2010.
For its Mini Cooper store, Crevier purchased the old Bauer Jaguar location at the Santa Ana Auto Mall in November. $5.75 million was paid for the 3.3-acre property.
George W. Brochick, executive vice president for the west region of Penske Automotive Group, said: “These (Crevier) franchises offer a fantastic chance to expand our presence in Orange County, California. The Crevier family has been expanding this firm for around 40 years by emphasizing client devotion, service, loyalty, and community dedication. While strengthening the client experience and expanding the visibility of the BMW and Mini brands in the Santa Ana location, we look forward to carrying on these traditions.”
Penske purchases a Crevier BMW.
For an undisclosed sum, Michigan’s Penske Automotive Group Inc. has acquired Crevier BMW and Mini of Santa Ana.
Today, Penske made the sale official. The Business Journal published the first indications indicating a deal was in the works last month.
In the Western United States, Crevier BMW is the brand’s top dealer, bringing in around $250 million yearly.
After Newport Beach-based Fletcher Jones Motorcars, which generates $431 million in sales annually, it is the No. 2 dealer in Orange County.
Owner of Crevier BMW Donnie Crevier stated, “When we chose to sell the firm, it was very important to us to pick someone who would appreciate the caliber of the team that established this business and carry on our culture and the legacy of the Crevier name.”
Crevier received advice on the sale from Presidio Merchant Partners LLC, a subsidiary of San Francisco-based Presidio Group LLC. It represents traders with market values ranging from $20 million to $300 million.
The Santa Ana Auto Mall showroom in Crevier cost $33 million to renovate and expand in recent years. Additionally, Crevier increased parking.
The 12 acres that make up Crevier’s 100,000 square foot dealership. A five story, 195,000 square foot parking building is present on the property.
Donnie Crevier is an automobile collector who also operates Crevier Classic Cars, a car club and storage facility in Costa Mesa.
Longtime supporters of the dealership include Human Options Inc. in Irvine and the Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach in Orange County.
After Florida-based Car Nation Inc., Penske is the second-largest publicly traded auto dealer group in the country.
At the Santa Ana Auto Mall in 2010, Penske acquired Commonwealth Audi and Volkswagen, both of Santa Ana.
The business also owns a number of other car dealerships in Southern California, such as Penske Toyota and Scion of Rancho Santa Margarita.
Crevier MINI and BMW Embracing the Penske Franchise
It is with pleasure that Penske Automotive Group announces today that it has purchased the BMW and MINI dealerships from Crevier in Santa Ana, California. The 180 domestic Penske dealerships and 200 international Penske dealerships now have this helpful feature.
The Santa Ana Auto Mall, which also houses Penske’s Audi and Volkswagen brands, is home to Crevier BMW and MINI. With approximately 100,000 square feet of buildings, 62 service bays, and a five-story, 195,000-square-foot parking structure, the franchises cover more than 12 acres.
This new franchise will increase Penske’s presence in Orange County, California, and contribute around $275 million in annual revenue.
According to unit sales in 2010, Crevier BMW was the largest Certified BMW pre-owned dealership in the western area and the fifth largest new-unit BMW dealership in the United States. BMW’s Center of Excellence designation has been given to Crevier BMW six times, most recently in 2010. Based on new car sales in 2010, Crevier MINI was ranked as the 7th largest MINI dealership in the United States.
The extensive assortment of new and used cars, trucks, and SUVs, as well as the well-known commitment to customer service at Crevier BMW/ Mini, are a great addition to the Penske Automotive Group’s ongoing expansion. Penske is very enthusiastic about this new addition and is looking forward to carrying on the heritage of providing customers in Orange County with top-notch quality service.