Dorschel Automotive Group

About Dorschel Automotive Group: Auto and truck sales/service, auto lease/rental, collision service and retail/wholesale parts.

Rank on Top 100: 96

Top Executive: Mr. Richard J. Dorschel

Employees: 431

Website: www.dorschel.com

We asked Richard Dorschel, president, to talk about his business.

Question: Tell me briefly about Dorschel Automotive:
Dorschel: Dorschel Automotive is a group of auto, truck and motorcycle franchises plus resale and auto credit outlets that sell and finance new and used cars, trucks, SUV's and motorcycles. In addition, Dorschel operates five service and parts outlets, a large parts warehouse and the area's largest collision repair center.

Question: What differentiates Dorschel Automotive from its competitors?
Dorschel: Our longevity as a company in Rochester, the number of long-term employees, consistent performance with an eye to excellence in customer service and repeat business.

Question: Where do you see Dorschel Automotive in ten years?
Dorschel: Our goal for the future is to achieve 25 percent of the Rochester region's new and used car and truck retail business.

Question: What does it mean to your business to be recognized by the Rochester Business Alliance as one of Rochester's Top 100 Companies?
Dorschel: To appear in the Top 100 companies on a consistent basis means that we are growing our business annually and maintaining our presence in the community and marketplace.

Question: What additional services can the Rochester Business Alliance provide to help your business?
Dorschel: Job development services of any nature will ultimately help our business.

Question: What signs of optimism do you see in the local economy?
Dorschel: The community has shown remarkable resilience by maintaining low unemployment levels during a period when the three key corporation "kingpins" (Kodak, Xerox and Bausch & Lomb) have been restructuring, downsizing and reinventing themselves. Small and medium sized, high tech businesses have carried the day and will be our future growth engine.

Question: What trends are you seeing among your customers in terms of preferences?
Dorschel: There is a strong shift to import manufacturers products, i.e. Nissan, Toyota, Lexus & Infiniti.